A group of some 20 angry Libyan men are protesting loudly outside the airport departures lounge, insisting that a man who they say is the chairman of an airline which ferried mercenaries to Libya should be arrested.

The protest started outside the San Gorg Hotel in St Julians, where the man was resident.

Sabri El Shadli, chairman of Afrikiyah Airlines, was escorted out of the hotel by the police and taken to the airport - with the protesters following.

"We want to show the Maltese government that this man is a criminal" one of the protesters said. He insisted that Malta should show solidarity with them, adding that such things would not be forgotten.

The Commissioner of Police was among those who escorted the man out of the hotel.

There is a big police presence at the airport.

The protesters said Mr El Shadli was in Malta in transit to take an Emirates flight to Dubai.

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