File photo/ WAMFour detainees - three Filipinos and a South Korean - who were held captive by armed groups in Libya, have been released thanks to “intensive efforts” made by the UAE “in coordination and cooperation” with the Libyan National Army, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said. The civilians, who were held captive last year by some Libyan armed groups in west Libya, were airlifted to Abu Dhabi prior to be taken to their home countries. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement that the detainees, who work as civil engineers, were held captive while working at a desalination plant in west Libya. “Upon receiving requests from the Philippines and South Korea, the UAE communicated with the Libyan National Army to work on releasing them and to ensure their safety,”The statement said. “In this case, they did not consider that these civilians work for companies that are serving national interests of Libya and its people,” the statement added.

Source: Libya Today May 17, 2019 06:11 UTC