The Tunisian courts acquitted Tuesday the former Libyan Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi, who has been detained since September for illegal entry into Tunisian territory. According to a judicial source, Al Mahmoudi had appeared Tuesday before the Court of Appeal of Tozeur (450 km southwest of Tunis) ahead of his acquittal.
"The Court of Appeal of Tozeur acquitted Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi and we therefore call for his immediate release. From a legal standpoint, there is no reason to keep him in prison," said his lawyer. Al Mahmoudi attended the hearing in Tozeur, after being transferred by ambulance from the prison of Mornaguia, near Tunis. He was prosecuted in Tunisia for "illegally crossing the border" since his arrest on Sept. 21, weeks after the fall of the former Libyan regime.
The new Libyan regime has twice requested his extradition. The Tunisian justice system has responded positively to these requests.
