The Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagah expressed his rejection of the extradition of the Libyan citizen, Abu Ajila Masoud to the United States.
In a televised speech, Bashagha said that the extradition of Masoud is “totally unacceptable” and was “illegal.”
Abu Ajila is a former Libyan intelligence officer, who allegedly made the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie.
Bashagha also called on the ministers of the Government of National Unity (GNU) to take a “patriotic stance” and resign from the “illegitimate” government of Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba. He also called on the Libyan people to take a “real patriotic stance towards the extradition of a Libyan citizen to the US.”
Bashagha warned that the country is “now going through a sensitive and dangerous phase.”
Notably, Masoud’s family announced that they would sue the Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, Najla Al-Mangoush for their “involvement” in handing over Abu Ajila Masoud to the FBI.
In a statement, the family called on the Libyan judiciary to “open an investigation and hold accountable all those who planned, orchestrated, and were involved in the kidnapping and extradition of their son to the United States.”
It also said that it would “pursue the commander of the Joint Forces in Misrata, for his role in kidnapping their son.”
Last week, Masoud appeared in a US courtroom on Monday, according to a statement issued by the US Department of Justice. US Attorney General, Merrick B. Garland said the “relentless efforts over the past three decades led to the indictment and arrest of Abu Ajila for his alleged role in building the bomb used in the attack.”
Meanwhile, the Libyan Parliament denounced the step. The Libyan Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour announced that his office will launch an investigating into the incident.