Seven held for taking over Libyan embassy in Stockholm

Πηγή: Sify News

2011-08-12 07:30:00

Stockholm, Aug 12 (IANS) Seven people, who broke into the Libyan embassy building in Sweden and tried to take it over, were arrested by the police here Thursday, Xinhua reported.

The intruders hung a Libyan opposition's flag on the wall of the embassy.

'The purpose is to arrest those who broke into the embassy and engaged in criminal actions,' police spokesman Kjell Lindgren told Swedish News Agency TT.

The dramatic incident took place when seven people broke into the empty Libyan Embassy in the morning. Some of them stood on the windows and threatened to commit suicide if the police try to come in.

Some 15 policemen were sent at the scene first with ambulance and firebrigade arrived around noon as flammable liquid and lighters were seen through the window.

A group of 20 policemen later stormed into the embassy through a window. All the seven occupiers have been arrested with no one injured.

Libyan opposition supporters have tried to break into the embassy a couple of times in March and April.

The embassy has been empty for a long time since Sweden refused to recognise the diplomatic mission sent out by Libyan government in March.

Human Rights Watch on Libyan Opposition abuses

Libya: Opposition Arbitrarily Detaining Suspected Gaddafi Loyalists

Respect Due Process Rights; Rein in Volunteer Security Groups


June 5, 2011

There is no excuse to delay the rule of law in areas under opposition control. The authorities should rein in volunteer security groups, establish a clear civilian authority for criminal justice, and make sure detainees get full due process rights.

Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

(Tunis) – Libyan opposition authorities are arbitrarily detaining dozens of civilians suspected of activities in support of Muammar Gaddafi, Human Rights Watch said today. The opposition authorities, which exercise control in eastern Libya and parts of the west, should provide the detainees with full due process rights or release them, Human Rights Watch said.

The authorities should also bring volunteer security groups that have formed in the east under a recognized civilian authority and investigate their alleged abuses, Human Rights Watch said. One detainee of a volunteer group was apparently tortured to death in custody.