Italian man released after kidnap in Libya

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ROME: An Italian man, kidnapped in Libya eight months ago, has been released unharmed, Italy's foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Gianluca Salviato, who had been working on a sewerage construction project near the eastern city of Tobruk, was seized in March by what Italian authorities believed was a criminal gang seeking a ransom.

He arrived back in Rome late on Saturday, the foreign ministry said in a statement. It gave no details on how the release was arranged.

The weak central government in Tripoli wields little influence over the eastern part of the country, where well-armed militias have taken root since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi three years ago. (Reuters)