AMMAN
Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh announced Tuesday that the kingdom's ambassador to Libya Fawaz al-Aitan who was kidnapped by militants in the North African country last month has been released and is on his way back home.
Al-Aitan has been released "in good health" and is expected to arrive in Amman within a few hours, Judeh was quoted by official Petra news agency as saying.
The minister gave no further details, but said he would hold a press conference upon the diplomat's arrival to "unveil efforts exerted to secure his release."
Freed Jordan envoy says Libyan captors treated him well
After arriving in Amman, freed Jordanian ambassador to Libya said he was treated well by his Libyan abductors during his month-long captivity.
"The kidnapping experience was tough, but I wasn't tortured or mistreated," Fawaz al-Aitan told reporters after touching down at Amman's Marka Airport.
He added that he had no objection to reassuming his ambassadorial duties in Tripoli.
"The situation in Libya isn't good news for anyone," he said. "I hope Libya's circumstances stabilize so the country can enjoy some security and safety."
Al-Aitan also thanked Jordan's King Abdullah II and the Jordanian government, along with anyone else who played a role in his release.
Earlier Sunday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh announced that al-Aitan, who was kidnapped by Libyan militants in in mid-April, had been released and was on his way home.
Judeh gave no further details, but said he would hold a press conference upon the diplomat's arrival to "highlight the efforts exerted to secure his release."
A diplomatic source told Anadolu Agency that al-Aitan's release came after Jordan handed over a Libyan prisoner, identified as Mohamed al-Darsi, to the authorities in Tripoli.
"The kidnappers only wanted the release of al-Darsi, sentenced to life in prison in Jordan over an attempt to bomb Amman Queen Alia International Airport years ago," the source, who asked not to be named, told Anadolu Agency.
"Al-Darsi was flown to Tripoli on Monday in response to the kidnappers' demand," he added, noting that the exchange came following negotiations led by Libyan diplomats and tribal leaders.
Al-Aitan and two of his companions were abducted in mid-April by unidentified gunmen in Libyan capital Tripoli. Some Jordanian officials linked the abduction to an earlier announcement by Jordanian authorities on the arrest of a number of Libyan "extremists" in the kingdom.
The kidnapping was the latest in a string of attacks targeting foreign diplomats in Libya, which has been suffering political and security instability since the overthrow of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
No group has claimed responsibility for the al-Aitan's abduction. However, a high-level Jordanian government official told AA earlier that "jihadist" groups were likely behind the abduction.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
