Libyan authorities on Monday released 14 Egyptians detained in the country since the Libyan uprising began in February, Egypt's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday.
The authorities released the detainees because of efforts made by Egypt's Foreign Ministry to negotiate with Libyan officials, said Mohamed Abdel Hakam, assistant foreign affairs minister.
Abdel Hakam added that the Egyptians released have been deported to the Ras Jedeir region in Tunisia to prepare to send them back home.
He said the Foreign Ministry spares no efforts in helping expatriate Egyptians, noting that the ministry will continue its effort to help them return to Egypt.
Families of Egyptians detained in Libya demonstrated at the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, demanding that officials intervene with Libyan authorities to release their relatives and bring them back home.
The demonstrators tried to break the iron gate of the ministry and storm the building to meet with the minister, accusing his assistant of sluggishness in handling the problem.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
