Turkey's ship released by Haftar forces in Libya

Photo: AA

A ship from Turkey under a Jamaican flag that was detained last week by forces in eastern Libya, was released yesterday (December 10).

The vessel and its crew members set out for their final destination Misrata, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing local sources..

Haftar's forces detained the vessel and its 17 crew members, including nine citizens of Turkey, on December 5, claiming they did not comply with instructions.

On December 8, Ahmed Al-Mismari, Haftar's spokesperson, said on his social media account that the Jamaican-flagged commercial cargo ship Mabrooka, whose owner is said to be a citizen of Turkey, entered a prohibited area, did not respond to calls, and was taken to the port of Ras al-Hilal.

Al-Mismari added that the ship was "investigated and inspected because it violated maritime rules and laws".

He also told the Al-Hadath TV channel that the ship was loaded with medicines to be taken to Misrata but entered a forbidden area.

Sources said the procedure has been applied to other ships in the region but no ships have been seized and a penalty was foreseen for entering the wrong area.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Currently, two governments control most parts of the country; the Tripoli based Government of National Accord (GNA), which is supported by Turkey, and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, which is aligned with Khaftar's National Liberation Army (LNA).