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![Ali Zeidan was held for a few hours before being released [Xinhua]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/218425099_8-300x217.jpg)
Ali Zeidan was held for a few hours before being released [Xinhua]
A Libyan government spokesperson confirmed that Zeidan was abducted from his residence at the Corinthia Hotel in the city centre by an unknown number of armed men shortly before dawn, and released at noon Tripoli time.
The armed group, which once fought against former Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi, said that the abduction operation was in retaliation for Tripoli’s alleged green light in the capture of Al-Qaeda chief Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai (also known as Abu Anas Al Libi) by US Navy Seals last week.
On October 5, US Navy Seals carried out operations in Libya and Somalia to kill or apprehend alleged masterminds of the terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya late September.
The Libyan government denied any knowledge of the secret operation.
Violence has continued intermittently since Gaddafi was ousted from power and killed on October 20, 2011, with armed groups vying for power.
In September 2012, US ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and his entourage was killed when an armed group believed to be affiliated with Al-Qaeda attacked the diplomatic mission in Benghazi.
Last week, Moscow pulled its diplomatic staff from Tripoli after an armed group tried to storm the embassy compound there.
Russia has repeatedly warned that Libya is insecure and could be gripped by growing violence.
Source: Agencies
