Libyan authorities working to free abducted Egyptian diplomats

Libya's Justice Minister Salah Marghani has condemned a series of abductions of six Egyptian diplomats, and stressed that in-depth contact is being made with the abductees to free the Egyptians. Earlier on Saturday the Egyptian cultural attache along with another three diplomats were abducted following the abduction of the Egyptian embassy's administrative attache and another diplomat a day prior by a group of gunmen. "Talks are being held between both sides on the highest levels," the minister told a press conference on Saturday. "Libyan authorities are concerned for the safety of the abducted diplomats and wish to put an end to the crisis in the quickest time possible," he added. On the other hand, he called on Egyptian authorities to reveal the circumstances behind the arrest of Libyan Islamist, Shaaban Hadiya a few days ago in Alexandria. The minister said he hoped the individual had not committed serious offences. Shaaban is a senior figure of the Islamist group, the Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room.