A 45-year-old Maltese man has been reported missing in Libya, the government said yesterday.

He was last seen in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

Sources told the Times of Malta that the man, who remained unnamed, was well-acquainted with the city.

A government statement said the authorities were trying to gather more information about the missing man and reiterated that the travel ban to Libya was still in force.Two other Maltese nationals are also being detained in Libya.

A Syria-born engineer was apprehended by the Zuwara coastguard on board the Sovereign M, a Togo-registered ship, on August 27, on allegations of fuel smuggling.

The other Maltese national was detained when the Maltese-owned tanker Santa Cruz, registered in Tanzania, was intercepted by the Libyan coast guard off Zuwara on September 2, allegedly carrying over 200,000 litres of smuggled fuel. The tanker is being held at Misurata harbour.

Sea captain Carmelo Grech was released by the Libyan authorities after being held in the east of the country.

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