Bodies of Serbian embassy workers killed in bombing of IS target in Libya repatriated

Record ID: 113191

  • Title: Bodies of Serbian embassy workers killed in bombing of IS target in Libya repatriated
  • Date: 23rd February 2016
  • Summary: BELGRADE, SERBIA (FEBRUARY 23, 2016) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** TURKISH AIRWAYS PLANE LANDING PLANE TAXING ON RUNAWAY MEDIA PLANE SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, IVICA DACIC, STANDING (CENTRE) HUSBAND OF VICTIM SLADJANA STANKOVIC, ALEKSANDAR STANKOVIC AIRPORT WORKERS COVERING COFFINS WITH SERBIAN FLAGS COFFINS BEING UNLOADED FROM PLANE MEN F
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2016 20:07
  • Keywords: repatriation Libya Islamic State bombing bodies embassy Serbian
  • Location: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • City: BELGRADE, SERBIA
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA00145PPBND
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS NIGHT SHOTS
    The bodies of two Serbian embassy staffers, Jovica Stepic and Sladjana Stankovic, who had been held hostage in Libya since November and killed in Friday's U.S. air strikes (February 19) on an Islamic state camp, arrived on Tuesday (February 23) in Belgrade.
    Serbian Air Serbia did not get permission to fly to Libya, so bodies were transported via Istanbul on a foreign air carriers.
    The coffins were covered with Serbian flags as they were unloaded from the airplane. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic paid his respects at the airport as the widower of Sladjana Stankovic looked on.
    Dacic said Serbian authorities had been negotiating the release of the two staff and "the kidnappers had a financial interest". But he said the demands had been "impossible" to meet by either the families or the government.
    U.S. officials have said they gave advance warning of the strikes to Libyan authorities, without specifying who they contacted.
    Since 2014 Libya has had two competing governments, one based in Tripoli and the other, which has received international recognition, in the east.
    Both sides are supported by loose alliances of former rebels and armed brigades. A unity government has been nominated under a United Nations-backed plan but has yet to win approval or move to Libya.
    Western powers and the United Nations have been trying to reach out to armed factions to provide security for the unity government and tackle the threat from Islamic State militants.
    The ultra-hardline group took control of Gaddafi's home town of Sirte last year and has carried out attacks in several other towns and cities.
    Diplomats and foreign nationals have been targeted in the past for kidnappings, mostly for ransom or to demand the release of fighters being held by overseas governments. Islamist militants have also targeted foreigners.
    Serbia has ties with both of Libya's governments.
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