An Italian fishing
boat was seized by Libyan armed forces in the early hours of
Friday some 30 miles from the Libyan coast, according to
Giovanni Tumbiolo, the president of a Sicilian branch of fishing
association COSVAP.
The vessel had seven sailors aboard, three Italians from
Sicily and four Tunisians.
"The state of alarm has been at the maximum level since the
Italian embassy (in Libya) was closed," said Tumbiolo, who added
that he had contacted the Libyan agriculture and fisheries
minister.
"We are worried but at the same time hopeful, because the
Libyan people have always been close to the Sicilians".
According to initial reports, one Libyan soldier boarded
the boat, the Mazara del Vallo-based Airone, and it then headed
to the port of Misrata.
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