Libyan Olympic chief abducted

TRIPOLI — The president of Libya’s Olympic Committee Nabil Al-Alam was kidnapped by gunmen in the centre of Tripoli and taken to a secret location, a committee official said Monday.

“Nine gunmen posing as members of the Libyan army removed Mr. Alam from his car in the centre of the city at around 3:00 P.M. (1300 GMT) and took him to an unknown location,” Alam’s office chief Arafat Juwan said.

The army and interior ministry were not aware of any arrests, he added.

Alam’s abduction comes a few days before the planned departure of Libya’s five representatives to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are set to begin on July 27.

Libyan athletes will be participating in judo, the marathon, the women’s 100-meter dash and weightlifting.

Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that he had been in contact with the NOC in Libya. — AFP