The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday urged the Libyan authorities to release Tunisian sailors who were kidnapped on board three fishing boats from the seaport of the Libyan Zawya city.

A statement by the ministry said that a follow-up cell continued contacts with the Libyan bodies concerned to ensure the safety of the sailors, secure communication with their families, intensify efforts to release them and restore the seized boats as soon as possible.

The statement added that Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui phoned Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Libyan government of national reconciliation Mohamed Taha Siala to call for releasing the kidnapped sailors soon.

The follow-up cell, supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and grouping representatives of the ministries concerned, is in permanent session until the arrival of Tunisian sailors back home, the statement said.

As many as 54 Tunisian sailors on board three fishing boats were kidnapped weeks ago. Later, the Tunisian Ministry of Defense said its naval forces succeeded in freeing one of the seized boats.

Source: MENA