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Four Jordanians detained in Libya released

Arab World Materials 1 March 2011 15:47 (UTC +04:00)

Jordan authorities on Monday secured the release of four Jordanians who were arrested by the Libyan authorities, The Jordan Times reported.

It was announced first that Jordan's Ambassador to Libya Munther Qabbaah ensured the release of the two.

Later in the evening, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh wrote on his Twitter site: "Our ambassador in Tripoli was just informed that the remaining two Jordanians were released."

Mohammad Kayed, foreign ministry's spokesperson, said in remarks to The Jordan Times earlier: "Since we received information that Jordanian citizens were arrested, we contacted our embassy in Tripoli, which, in turn, contacted the Libyan authorities."

"The effort paid off and two of the arrested citizens were freed."

He noted that the embassy had information on the place where the other two men were detained and was "exerting extensive efforts to ensure they are safe and will be freed as soon as possible".

Judeh gave credit to the entire team of his ministry.

Meanwhile, Minister of Transport Mohannad Qudah told reporters yesterday that a total of 1,200 Syrian citizens, who fled Libya's unrest, were transported from Aqaba to the Syrian border at the government's expense.

The Syrians had reached Aqaba via Nuweibeh on board one of the Arab Bridge Maritime Company ferries "free of charge", and the Jordan Express Tourist Transportation Company provided their free transport to the Syrian border.

Moreover, the minister highlighted that China has asked the government to assist in the evacuation of 5,000 Chinese citizens from troubled Libya to Amman.

Also on Monday, the government's efforts to bring back Jordanian citizens from Libya were still ongoing, with 120 citizens expected to arrive in the Kingdom later in the evening, Kayed said.

He added that with this batch included, over 2,300 citizens will have arrived since the unrest started in mid-February.

There are about 9,000 Jordanians living and working in the North African Arab country.

Meanwhile, the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) will dispatch more planes to bring home Jordanians stranded in Libya, upon His Majesty King Abdullah's directives. The RJAF will send three planes in the coming three days, an aircraft each day starting today, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Last week, the RJAF sent two planes to carry dozens of Jordanians from Tripoli airport.

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