Jordan ambassador to Libya kidnapped by gunmen

Unknown gunmen kidnapped the Jordanian ambassador to Libya on Tuesday morning in the capital Tripoli, said a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry. Unidentified masked gunmen, driving two cars without plates, attacked ambassador Fawaz al-Etan and his driver, the spokesman Said al-Aswad said in a statement. The gunmen opened fire on the car and took the ambassador to an unknown place, Said said. Said added that the driver of the ambassador was wounded by two bullets and is now in hospital in Tripoli for treatment. It is now unclear about the identities of the gunmen and who is behind the kidnapping. Sources said the ministry had not received any demands from the abductors. Later in the day, Libyan acting Prime Minister Abdullah al- Thinni held a telephone conversation with his counterpart of Jordan, Abdullah Ensour, saying that Libya will spend every effort to ensure the safety of al-Etan and the interim government is trying to investigate into the "unfortunate incident." Thinni said the gunmen do not represent the Libyan people and the relationship between Jordan and Libya will not be affected. Libya has been plagued with kidnappings and robberies since the downfall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's government, and the interim government has not established an effective control all around the North African country. Foreign officials have been "easy targets" for the outlaws in Libya. Five Egyptian diplomats, a Tunisian diplomat and a South Korean trade official have been abducted in the country since the start of this year.