Jordanian ambassador in Libya freed in swap for jihadist

AMMAN –– Jordan's ambassador to Libya Fawaz Aitan, who was kidnapped by an armed group mid April by armed an armed group, was freed and returned home on Tuesday.

Aitan arrived at Marka Airport around 10:00am and greeted by HRH Prince Feisal, the Regent, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in addition to family members and a large number of Jordanians.

According to Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khalid Kalaldeh, Aitan was released as part of a swap deal for Libyan prisoner Mohammad Dersi to Libyan authorities.

Dersi was serving a life sentence imprisonment in Jordan for plotting to carry out a bombing attack against Queen Alia International Airport in 2006.

Kalaldeh told The Jordan Times that Dersi will spend his imprisonment term in Libyan prisons.

 The release of the Jordanian diplomat comes just days after Libya said it had ratified an extradition agreement with Jordan.

Judeh is scheduled to hold a press conference later on the day to brief journalists on further details of the release of the envoy.