UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame has apologized to Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha for his misleading claims about the Director of Food and Drugs Administration Mohammed Al-Mishai.
In his remarks to the UN Security Council on Monday, Salame claimed: “abductions have also risen at an alarming rate in Tripoli, with numerous government officials, including the Deputy Director of Food and Drugs Administration kidnapped by armed groups to settle scores and extort ransoms.”
The UN envoy equated Al-Mishai’s case with that of lawmaker Siham Sergewa who was violently abducted from her home in Benghazi by an armed group.
The Ministry of Interior deplored Ghassan’s false information, accusing him of being bias.
The ministry explained in a letter of protest to Salame that Al-Mishai was arrested by state authorities for interrogations about alleged corruption charges. He was later released by the Office of Public Prosecutor while Siham Sergewa’s where about are still unknown.
Responding to the letter of the Ministry of Interior, Ghassan Salame apologized for what he said was an “unintentional mistake”.
“My colleagues have made a mistake by considering him (Al-Mishai) an abductee. I took this mistake and I take full responsibility for it.” Salame said in a letter to minister Bashagha.