Military intelligence director in Marsa Matrouh, Alaa Abu Zeid, has denied that any illegal deal to secure the release of Egyptian drivers in Libya took place with their kidnappers.
Scores of lorry drivers were captured close to Ajdabiya in Libya before being returned to Egypt on Monday.
“We did not give any concessions in our negotiations with the elders that began on 19 October,” said Abu Zeid at the reception ceremony of the 60 drivers returning from Libya, which was organized by the army in the VIP Hall at the Salloum crossing.
He explained that military intelligence agreed with Libyan kidnappers to release the drivers in return for the Egyptian government to consider their demands regarding relatives who have been convicted for sentences ranging from one year to 25 years for entering a prohibited military zone and possessing weapons.
“The whole matter is but a tempest in a teacup,” he said. “We will reopen the crossing once the western military region commander assures us that the Ajdabiya-Tobruk road is safe.”
The ceremony was attended the governor of Matrouh and a number of high-ranking security officials.
The armed forces gave gifts to the drivers who chanted slogans in support of the army.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
