ID :
203189
Wed, 08/24/2011 - 11:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203189
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean ambassador's residence in Libya attacked by armed robbers
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A gang of armed robbers attacked the South Korean ambassador's residence in Tripoli and stole televisions and other gadgets, but no one was hurt during the rioting, a diplomatic source in Seoul said Wednesday.
About 30 rioters stormed the residence building in the Libyan capital on Tuesday evening (local time), where two or three local employees were working at the time, but no one was injured in the looting, the source said on the condition of anonymity.
The Korean embassy staff avoided the incident as all of them have been temporarily moved to a Tunisian island since late May amid escalating dangers from NATO air strikes against forces royal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The local employees were threatened at gunpoint by the rioters and the stolen items included TVs, electronic goods and furniture, the source said.
"In downtown Tripoli, there is a state of security vacuum," the source said.
With public order in Tripoli showing no signs of being restored anytime soon, meanwhile, the South Korean government is likely to order its embassy staff to stay in Tunisia for longer than originally planned, the source said.
South Korea has officially recognized Libya's rebel-led council as the North African nation's legitimate government.
International efforts to support the rebel Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) are intensifying as the 42-year-old regime of Gadhafi is on the verge of collapse with rebel forces storming Gadhafi's fortress-like compound in Tripoli.
"Our basic stance is that we will review the timing of returning the embassy staff to Tripoli when public order is being restored, and the NTC headquarters are established there," said a senior official at Seoul's foreign ministry.
kdh@yna.co.kr
About 30 rioters stormed the residence building in the Libyan capital on Tuesday evening (local time), where two or three local employees were working at the time, but no one was injured in the looting, the source said on the condition of anonymity.
The Korean embassy staff avoided the incident as all of them have been temporarily moved to a Tunisian island since late May amid escalating dangers from NATO air strikes against forces royal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
The local employees were threatened at gunpoint by the rioters and the stolen items included TVs, electronic goods and furniture, the source said.
"In downtown Tripoli, there is a state of security vacuum," the source said.
With public order in Tripoli showing no signs of being restored anytime soon, meanwhile, the South Korean government is likely to order its embassy staff to stay in Tunisia for longer than originally planned, the source said.
South Korea has officially recognized Libya's rebel-led council as the North African nation's legitimate government.
International efforts to support the rebel Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) are intensifying as the 42-year-old regime of Gadhafi is on the verge of collapse with rebel forces storming Gadhafi's fortress-like compound in Tripoli.
"Our basic stance is that we will review the timing of returning the embassy staff to Tripoli when public order is being restored, and the NTC headquarters are established there," said a senior official at Seoul's foreign ministry.
kdh@yna.co.kr
