The head of the Libyan Taekwondo Federation, Ali Al-Saber, was released on Saturday evening after being kidnapped for 48 hours, Al-Saber's family has confirmed.

The Taekwondo official was kidnapped last Thursday from his neighborhood Abu Nawas of Tripoli by unknown gunmen.

He has not yet revealed the details of his kidnapping or the party responsible for his detention.

His wife wrote on her Facebook page, "Praise be to God, my husband has returned safely, and I thank you all for the unlimited support you have given us in this ordeal."

The Libyan Crimes Watch said on Friday that the kidnapping of Al-Saber was related to his candidacy for the Libyan Olympic Committee presidency.

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