The Justice Ministry in the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) announced the release of Mahdi al-Arabi, one of the senior military officials from the regime of late ruler Moammar al-Gaddafi.
The ministry said in a statement Thursday that he was being released for health reasons to allow him to continue to receive medical treatment outside of jail.
It did not disclose further details about his condition.
Under the Gaddafi regime, Arabi headed the training unit in the Defense Ministry. He also served as deputy chief of staff and was later accused of suppressing the peaceful protests in the city of Zawiya during the revolt against Gaddafi.
He was ultimately arrested soon after Gaddafi’s ouster in 2011.
Separately, new footage was released of the capture of fugitive Egyptian terrorist Hisham al-Amshawi by Libyan National Army forces.
The 30-second video showed the fugitive on the ground and surrounded by three fighters, who were trying to dismantle an explosive belt he was wearing.
A disheveled and confused Amshawi was ordered to keep his hands were the forces can see them to prevent him from accessing and detonating the belt.
When approached by Asharq Al-Awsat, the soldier who shot the video refused to comment on the footage because he was barred from speaking to the media.
Ashmawi was caught along with two of his companions earlier this week.
