Militiamen have kidnapped a group of Tunisian workers near the Libyan capital and are demanding the release of a comrade held in Tunisia, a rights activist said Saturday. A diplomatic source and Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord said 14 workers had been taken hostage. "The foreign ministry is following the case of the Tunisian citizens... kidnapped by armed Libyan elements near Zawiya", Tunisia's foreign ministry said on its Facebook page.

Rights activist Mustapha Abdelkebir said the armed group behind Thursday's kidnapping was demanding the release of one of its members held in Tunisia. "The minister has spoken to his Libyan counterpart to insist on the protection of the detainees, accelerate their release and ensure that they return safe and sound", Tunisia's foreign ministry said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019