Rights group says armed men kidnapped Libyan journalist outside his home in Tripoli

BENGHAZI, Libya – A Libyan rights group says armed men have kidnapped a Tripoli-based journalist in front of his home.

Nizar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Libyan Center for Freedom of Press, says that neighbors and family members saw four militiamen dressed in fatigues force journalist Motaz Kraif into their vehicle late Tuesday.

Kraif has worked for Libya al-Ahrar TV, a network formed during the 2011 uprising, and Al-Wasat newspaper, known for its anti-Islamist views.

Ibrahim says that in the past three months in Libya, three journalists received death threats, three were assaulted and eight were kidnapped.

Libya was plunged into turmoil following the toppling and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. An internationally recognized government is based in the far eastern city of Tobruk, while an Islamist militia-backed government controls the capital, Tripoli.