Libyans deported from Jordan belong to the fighting group, sources

Libyan sources have confirmed reports circulated by the al-Marsad al-Ilami al-Islamic on the killing of three out of eight Libyans who were deported in March from Amman to Tripoli. The eight men, most of them married to Jordanian women, were arrested in January in the Jordanian city of al-Zarqa.

Although the source said the three Libyans were killed following a clash with the security forces upon the arrival of the plane which took them to Tripoli's airport, another source stated that the three men clashed with security men after those security men had insulted their friends. This source added that the three men are from al-Maqariha tribe.

The London-based al-Hayat daily said in its Wednesday issue that the deported men belong to the "Fighting Islamic group," but this group, according to al-Hayat, has not declared any stand toward arresting the eight men in Jordan or evacuating them to Tripoli.

Al-Hayat added that this group is trying to reorganize its ranks following the hard strikes against it by the Libyan government, especially in Benghazi.

In 1996, this group claimed responsibility for the assassination attempt against Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gaddafi in Syrte.

The former agent at the British intelligence, David Shayler stated that his country had coordinated the assassination attempt against Gaddafi with one of its agents in the group, but the British government and the group denied Shayler's claims.