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Mass jailbreak from Libyan

Mass jailbreak from Libyan prison
July 27, 2013 8:10 PM

About 1,200 inmates have escaped from a jail in the restive Libyan city of Benghazi.

A security official told the AP news agency that most of the escapees were facing serious charges.

Another report said a riot had taken place inside the al-Kwafiya prison.

The jailbreak comes a day after the assassination of a prominent political activist triggered protests in the city, although it is not clear whether the two are connected.

Benghazi is one of the most unstable parts of post-revolution Libya. Last year the US ambassador and three other Americans were killed there.

'Reinforcements'

Earlier protesters attacked offices linked to the Muslim Brotherhood following the assassination of the prominent political activist Abdelsalam al-Mismari.

AFP news agency quoted a security official saying that some of the escapees were linked to the regime of Col Muammar Gaddafi. The former dictator was toppled in an uprising in August 2011.

"There was a riot inside al-Kwafiya prison, as well as an attack from outside," the official said.

"Special forces called in as reinforcements were given orders not to fire at the prisoners."

AFP also quoted Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan saying local residents had set the inmates free because "they don't want the prison near their homes".

BBC © 2013

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