The Libyan investigation report into a plane crash in Tripoli two years ago in which 70 Dutch nationals were killed has been delayed.

Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal told parliament on Friday afternoon that the Libyan authorities had informed him that they will not be able to submit a final report on the crash before 12 May – the second anniversary of the tragedy.

Libyan transport minister Yousif al-Wahishi has expressed his regret at the delay. The Libyan interim government told Mr Rosenthal in November, during his visit to Tripoli, that it expected to need another six months to complete its investigation. At the time, 70 percent of the investigation was complete.

The Foreign Ministry’s highest civil servant travelled to Tripoli at the beginning of April when it became known that the investigation would be delayed. He offered Dutch assistance and urged the Libyans to hurry up.
However, Minister Wahishi turned down the offer.

The Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A330 crashed shortly before landing at Tripoli’s international airport on 12 May 2010, killing 103 people. A nine-year-old Dutch boy was the sole survivor of the crash.

(nc)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide

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