A Maltese national was abducted by unknown people in Tripoli yesterday, informed sources said.

The man, Pierre Baldacchino, a manager at Saint James Hospital in Tripoli, was abducted while on his way home.

Efforts are being made to trace him and to establish the identity of his abductors. The Maltese government is believed to be involved in trying to help track down the 36-year-old man, a father of two girls.

Meanwhile, colleagues at Saint James Hospital expressed their shock at the news saying Mr Baldacchino was treated like a brother and family member to his Libya colleagues.

He is the second Maltese man to have been abducted in the Libyan capital in two months. Noel Sciberras, a director of a company which administers car parks, was abducted by a gang in Tajoura and released after 47 days.