Mayor of Libya's Tripoli freed after being abducted by gunmen

Mayor of the Libyan capital Tripoli, Abdrraouf Baitelmal, was freed after being kidnapped from his house, Tripoli municipality announced Thursday.

"Abdrraouf Baitelmal arrived at the headquarters of Tripoli Municipality at 22:00 (2000 GMT) after being forcibly absent since last night," the municipality said.

The municipality appreciated "all those who exerted efforts to achieve this, especially the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord."

An unknown armed group earlier on Thursday kidnapped Baitelmal after storming his house, the municipality said, suspending its work to protest the kidnapping.

However, the municipality did not provide further details about the kidnappers and Baitelmal's release.

The UN Support Mission in Libya condemned the kidnapping of the mayor, warning against the increased kidnappings in the city and calling on stakeholders to "take a clear stance denouncing this disturbing trend in Tripoli and elsewhere in Libya."

Frank Baker, the British ambassador to Libya, tweeted earlier on Thursday, saying he was "very concerned about the kidnapping of Tripoli Mayor, Mr. Abdrraouf Baitelmal. Hope he's freed safely soon. Organized crime is a big threat to Libyan people's safety."

Libya has been suffering insecurity and political division since the 2011 uprising that toppled the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)