Libya ratifies Jordan accord that could free ambassador

TRIPOLI — Libya on Thursday ratified an extradition agreement with Jordan that could pave the way for the release of Jordan’s kidnapped ambassador in exchange for a jihadist held by Amman.

Ambassador Fawaz Aitan was kidnapped three weeks ago in Tripoli by masked gunmen as he was being driven to work. They shot at his car and wounded his driver.

No one claimed responsibility for the abduction but Libyan sources later said the kidnappers were demanding the release of a Libyan jihadist jailed in Jordan for more than seven years.

Mohamed Dersi was tried and convicted in 2007 on charges of involvement in planning an attack on Queen Alia International Airport.

The Libyan government said on its website that the Cabinet has ratified an accord between the justice ministries of Jordan and Libya to extradite prisoners.

It did not elaborate.

Diplomats in Tripoli say militias which fought to topple the Muammar Qadhafi in a 2011 uprising often carry out kidnappings to blackmail other countries into releasing Libyans held abroad.

Two Tunisians, a diplomat and an embassy colleague, have also been abducted in Libya, and Tunis said their kidnappers are demanding the release of Libyans jailed in Tunisia on terrorism charges.