Two abducted Bangladeshis freed in Libya

Captives were allegedly held by an Islamic State affiliate in the war-ravaged state

By AFP 25 March 2015, 11:26 am

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Fighters from Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn), an alliance of Islamist-backed militias, hold a position during clashes with an opposing militia in Bir al-Ghanam, located some 80 kilometers south of the Libyan capital Tripoli, on March 21, 2015. (AFP/Mahmud Turkia)

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Two Bangladeshi workers abducted in Libya by suspected Islamic State militants have been freed after more than two weeks, Dhaka said Wednesday.

They were among a group of nine people including four Filipinos and an Austrian reportedly taken hostage in southern Libya this month in an attack blamed on the jihadist group.

The two Bangladeshis were released on Tuesday and were in good health, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

They spent the night at a local hospital and were due to travel to Tripoli on Wednesday.

At least eight guards were killed in the attack on the Al-Ghani oilfield in southern Libya on March 7.

Bangladesh initially blamed the Islamic State group for the abduction, but a junior foreign minister later said no militant group had claimed responsibility.

An estimated 30,000 Bangladeshis are believed to be working in Libya.

The country has been awash with weapons since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and opposing militias have since been battling to control its cities and oil wealth.

There are two rival governments and parliaments — those recognized by the international community sitting in the far east and the others in the capital backed by the Fajr Libya militia alliance.