Tripoli authorities deny return of MV Azzurra

Since its release two weeks ago and return to Malta, the ship sailed to Misurata with the aim of moving to Tripoli and make its return to Malta.

But shortly before its departure from Misurata yesterday, the ship's captain was told via radio that the MV Azzurra was not welcome in Tripoli harbour, and warned that it would be impounded if it were to return.

The Azzurra had been held by Libyan authorities over reports of alleged smuggling of illegal and counterfeit goods by the country's most major entrepreneur, Husni Bey, and was released only after matters had to be tackled at the highest diplomatic levels, which included urgent bilateral talks in Tripoli between foreign minister Tonio Borg and the NTC's deputy Prime Minister Moustafa Abu Shagam .

Even Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was actively involved in the negotiations, which included phone calls to Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdrurrahman El-Keib.

Meanwhile, prominent Libyan entrepreneur Husni Bey - who triggered the Azzurra issue following letters he sent to the highest authorities in Libya - had said that it was his "duty as a citizen" to ask Libyan authorities to monitor the trade on the Azzurra ferry.

Bey is the chairman of HB Group, which with some 32 subsidiaries employing around 1,500, makes it easily Libya's largest private holding group. With its exclusive distribution rights for brands such as Procter & Gamble, Sony and Ferrero Rocher, products like Pringles, Nutella, nonalcoholic Becks or Ferrero chocolates are distributed by the HB Group.

In his letter to the NTC, Bey alleged: "Those who profit are Maltese traders and smugglers who have even opened markets and shops in Libya. These goods include some that have almost reached their expiry date, they even involve alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and some of them might not even be suitable for human consumption and could cause serious harm to the consumer. The history of Malta has seen operations of reprinting best-by dates and committing fraud in this respect."

Zammit Group, the ferry's charterers, always denied the allegations and insisted that even if it was the case that some passengers carried contraband, it was the passenger and not the ship which had to be arrested.

Meanwhile, Husni Bey has this week been the target of Libya's National Transitional Council which has ordered a freeze on all of his assets.

The NTC's Law 36 has frozen not just the assets of the family members of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi, but also government-owned companies and private businesses - affecting 260 people and 78 companies.

The list includes Ahmed Qaddaf Al-Dam (Gaddafi's cousin, now exiled in Egypt), Musa Ibrahim (the Gaddafi regime spokesman), Musa Kusa (former foreign minister now believed to be in Qatar), Abdullah Mansour Daou (Gaddafi's personal security chief) and Abdullah Senussi (Gaddafi's former Intelligence chief).

Husni Bey, is the most surprising figure in the list. He provided major financial support for the 17 February Revolution.

Speaking to the Libya Herald, he blasted the decision of the NTC to include his name in the list saying: "It's criminal. It is a baseless decision done by some people for personal interests. I was imprisoned by the Gaddafi regime seven times. I served three and a half years last time I was imprisoned. We never worked with the former regime."

Asked how he would respond to this ban, Bey said: "I will use the media to spread awareness about this unjust ban. It is not the first time I've been put through this situation. My personal assets were frozen twice in 1996 & 2007 by the former regime. We never worked with the former regime at any time. It is a company policy that we never work with any government company and we never did."

Bey said there were many good people at the NTC, but criticised elements who wanted to work for their personal gain. "I am against corruption and strongly support transparency. I have already said it several times that the people's money was being stolen for 42 years - and it has not stopped in the last year. They need to do something about it."