Masked gunmen seized the Jordanian ambassador in the Libyan capital on Tuesday, officials said, the latest in a wave of abductions and kidnappings that have swept Libya underscoring the lawlessness in the North African nation since the 2011 overthrow of late dictator Muammar Qadhafi.
According to the spokesman of the Libyan Foreign Ministry, several masked gunmen in civilian clothes and in two cars opened fire at Ambassador Fawaz al-Etan’s vehicle early Tuesday morning in Tripoli.
The assailants wounded the Jordanian ambassador’s driver and forced Mr. al-Etan out at gunpoint, said the spokesman, Said al-Aswad.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sabah al-Rafie confirmed the kidnapping but had no further details. She said the Jordanian government was following the matter closely with the Libyan authorities.
The motives behind the abduction were not clear and no one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
