Updated: Government wants access to arrested Medavia chiefs

Libyan authorities are “actively considering” a request for diplomatic access to two arrested managers, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Zammit Dimech. The request was made in line with diplomatic protocol because one of the managers, Abdulrazagh Zmirli, is also a Maltese citizen. But a source close to the militia in Zawija told tripolipost.com today that no foreign government had the right to interfere in Libya's internal affairs. Tripolipost.com said the source expressed surprise that the Maltese government was trying to get involved in the case. Mr Zmirli, the source said, was primarily a Libyan, would be treated well and if he was found to be innocent, he would be released in due time. The Matlese Government asked to be formally notified of the charges against the two men. A judicial decision to charge or release the men still had to be taken but Libyan sources said the Zawija police seem to have applied a Gaddafi-era law that allows detention for up to 45 days. Mr Zmirli, managing director of Malta-based air services company Medavia, and the firm’s technical general manager Abdalla Dekna were arrested by Libyan anti-militia police last week. “The request to have...