Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Libyan Ex-Premier Beaten After Forced Return to Rebel Leaders

Libyan Ex-Premier ‘Beaten’ After Extradition, Lawyer Says

By Christopher Stephen on June 27, 2012

Libya’s former premier Baghdadi Mahmudi was beaten by Libyan security officers in Tripoli after being extradited from Tunisia, his French lawyer said. Libyan authorities denied the claim.

“He has been beaten,” said Ceccaldi in a telephone interview from Paris. “People said to me he has broken ribs, he has a perforated lung, and he fell into a coma. He is in the hospital, under guard.”

Saleh Darhoub, spokesman for Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council, said there had been no mistreatment. Mahmudi “has not been tortured,” he said in a telephone interview. “All his rights will be respected. He will be brought to justice lawfully.”

Mahmudi was Muammar Gaddafi’s prime minister until he fled to Tunisia after the fall of Tripoli to rebel forces in August. He was extradited two days ago. Human Rights Watch said earlier this month that Libya was holding an estimated 7,000 detainees in detention centres around the country.

Tunisia’s president Moncef Marzouki has already branded the extradition as “illegal” saying it was done behind his back.

The Tunisian consulate in Tripoli was attacked yesterday with an explosive device, the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. No-one was hurt in the incident, it said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Stephen at cstephen9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net

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