Tunisia to close consulate in Tripoli after hostage crisis

Tunisian Foreign Minister Taieb Baccouche announced on Friday that his government has decided to close its consulate in Tripoli, right after the ten consulate staff kidnapped in Libya were freed.

According to Baccouche, the decision came after Libya’s violation of its engagement to protect foreign diplomatic staff, Xinhua news agency reported. All 23 Tunisian diplomatic staff have left Libya on Friday by a military plane, said Baccouche.On Friday morning, all Tunisian consulate staff kidnapped in Libya a week ago were freed and were on <g data-gr-id="12">way</g> back home, said the Tunisian foreign ministry. The abducted officers at the consulate in the Libyan capital of Tripoli were held as hostages by a Libyan militia group last Saturday.