ROME—Four Italian workers were kidnapped in Libya on Sunday
evening, Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni confirmed
Monday.
Mr. Gentiloni said didn't know who was responsible for the crime
and that the priority for Rome's government was the nationals'
release.
"It is always difficult to tell only a few hours [after such an
incident] to understand who is responsible," said Mr. Gentiloni, on
the sidelines of a conference in Brussels and broadcast live by
SkyTG24.
The minister said Italy is working with intelligence services to
achieve the workers' release and the ministry is in contact with
their families and their employer, Italian construction company
Bonatti SpA.
The workers were seized near the strategically important oil and
natural gas complex of Mellitah, on the outskirts of Zuwarah in
Western Libya that provides Italy with up to 10% of its gas
imports. Mellitah Oil & Gas BV is owned by Libya's National Oil
Co. and Italian energy company Eni SpA.
Bonatti confirmed the kidnapping on Sunday near the Mellitah
complex and that it is in direct contact with the special unit at
Italy's foreign ministry that deals with such incidents. A Bonatti
spokesman declined to comment further.
Italy has been at the forefront of seeking a solution to
establish a government and create political stability in its former
colony since the ousting of Col. Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
Human traffickers use Libya as a base from which to ship
thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea in rickety boats
towards Italy. There is also increasing concern that Libya may be
used by Islamic terrorists as a base for attacks in other
countries.
In February, Italy closed its embassy in Libya and advised all
nationals to leave the country.
The security risks in Libya have crippled the country's oil and
natural gas production—its main source of foreign currency. Eni has
emerged as the only international oil company still pumping near
capacity in the war-torn country.
Write to Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@wsj.com
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