Libyan leader Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi concludes his three-day visit to Italy on Friday, amid criticism from human rights groups of the irregular migration control co-operation between the two countries and attempts by Italy to “contract out” to Libya its obligations to provide protection to refugees...

A prominent Libyan political activist died in hospital in Jordan on Thursday following his release from detention in Libya just over two weeks ago. Fathi el-Jahmi was detained in Libya in March 2004 and held without charge or trial, most recently at the Tripoli Medical Centre. He was flown to Amman...

Three vessels with an estimated 227 people on board sent out distress calls on Thursday while passing about 50 miles south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. A dispute between the Maltese and Italian government over who had responsibility may have delayed rescue operations. Rescue operations were...

Over one hundred countries voted overwhelmingly in favour of a second resolution on “Moratorium on the use of the death penalty” at the United Nations (UN) on Thursday. The resolution reaffirms last year’s UN General Assembly call for a moratorium on executions. 106 states supported the resolution,...

The Libyan authorities have allowed political reform activist Idriss Boufayed to travel to Switzerland to seek medical treatment for cancer. An outspoken critic of Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi and former secretary general of the National Union of Reform organisation, Idriss Boufayed was released from prison...

Libyan prisoner of conscience Idriss Boufayed was released by the Libyan authorities on Wednesday 8 October. An outspoken critic of Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi and secretary general of the Libyan organisation National Union of Reform, Idriss Boufayed was arrested on 16 February 2007 for trying to organize...

As Condoleezza Rice becomes the first US Secretary of State to visit Libya in 55 years, Amnesty International urges the US government to make human rights an integral component of its bilateral cooperation with Libya. Rice is travelling to Libya today as part of her trip to North Africa, which will...

The UK government’s policy of “deportation with assurances” was called into question on Wednesday by decisions of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales in two key cases. The cases are that of Abu Qatada, a Jordanian national, and that of two Libyan nationals, referred to for the purposes of...

At least 14 Libyans were arrested just over a year ago for planning a peaceful demonstration to mark the anniversary of the Benghazi events when security forces killed 12 demonstrators. Twelve of them now face unfair trials before a newly-created State Security Court. Two of them, Jum’a Boufayed...