IS behind Tunisian jourlists’ execution in Libya

Tripoli, January 9: The Libyan branch of the Islamic State (IS) on Thursday claimed to have executed two Tunisian jourlists, who have been missing for the past four months. The terrorist outfit, based in eastern Libya, published pictures of jourlists Sofiene Chourabi and dhir Ktari on it’s website, claiming to have carried out “God’s judgment”, Xinhua reported. The claim could not be immediately verified.

Investigative jourlist Sofiene Chourabi and photographer dhir Ktari disappeared on September 8, last year, in the eastern Libyan town of Ajdabiya.

They were on an assignment in Libya and were seized by militants in the eastern Libyan city of Brega on September 6, but were released, according to the media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, which the Xinhua report cited. Two days later, the jourlists however, disappeared again.

Libya has witnessed growing violence since the 2011 turmoil that toppled the country’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Since then, its political transition has been mired in endless clashes between Islamist and secular factions. The IS and terrorists linked to the group have taken advantage of the instability in Libya.

David Rodriguez, the commander of the US Africa Command (USAFRICOM), has warned that the IS has established training camps and a supply networks in eastern Libya. (IANS)