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Tripoli, 13 September:
One of the Misratans held . . .[restrict]hostage in Bani Walid whose release was negotiated by National Congress Speaker Mohamed Magarief on Monday was airlifted this morning, Thursday, by helicopter ambulance back to Misrata.
It had been announced on Monday that Omran Juma Shaban would be airlifted on Tuesday morning. No reason has been given for the two-day delay.
Shaban, who was seized along with another colleague by Bani Walid forces two months ago, was said to be in very poor state of health. It is also claimed that he had been tortured. He and his colleague, who has not been freed, reportedly fought with Misrata forces in Sirte at the time of the capture and killing of Muammar Qaddafi.
Two other Mistrans, Mohamed Assira and Abdul-Aziz Harous, returned home on Monday as a result of Magarief’s intervention. It followed protests outside the Congress by other Misratans who threatened to use force against Bani Walid if the hostages were not released.
A further two Misratans, Mohamed Shamat and Ali Abu-Shaala, also remain as hostages in Bani Walid. [/restrict]
