Libya's UN-backed government decides to release illegally detained prisoners

TRIPOLI, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed government on Monday issued a decision to release illegally detained prisoners, a government statement said.

"All detainees in prisons and detention centers, whose detention exceeds the legal period stipulated by law and no proceedings have been taken on them, shall be released, excluding those accused of terrorism, murder, armed robbery, banditry, and drug trafficking," the statement stated.

Notably, the Libyan UN-backed government has not been able to impose its authority on all prisons and detention centers in the country.

Libya has been plagued by insecurity and chaos since the uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.