Last Qaddafi-era prime minister released from Libyan jail on health grounds

Libya’s final prime minister under ousted leader Muammar Qaddafi was released from jail for health reasons on Saturday, four years after being sentenced to death. Baghdadi Al Mahmoudi, believed to be in his mid-70's, was prime minister as rebels rose against and killed Qaddafi in 2011. Mr Al Mahmoudi was given the death sentence in July 2014 along with eight other Qaddafi-era officials, including the leader's son Seif Al Islam, over their alleged role in the bloody crackdown on protesters. The justice ministry in Tripoli at the UN-backed government of national accord said Mr Al Mahmoudi was released "for health reasons" at the recommendation of medical experts "so that he could be treated at specialised medical centres". No further details were given. He was arrested in September 2011 as he tried to flee across the border to Tunisia, and was extradited to Libya the following year. During his detention in Tunisia, he claimed that Libya had financed the 2007 election campaign of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, according to his lawyers. The French ex-president vehemently denied the allegations, initially made by Seif Al Islam. But Mr Sarkozy was charged in March 2018 over accusations he accepted millions of euros from Qaddafi.

Last Qaddafi-era prime minister released from Libyan jail on health grounds

Baghdadi Al Mahmoudi was sentenced to death in 2014 for his actions during the 2011 uprisings