It is being reported that former Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, who fled Libya when he lost a vote of confidence in Tripoli’s parliament, is residing at a complex in Xemxija.
However, a government spokesman told this portal this morning that the online reports stating that Mr Zeidan is living in Malta "are all wrong".
Writing in her blog this morning, Daphne Caruana Galizia claims that Zeidan is residing at number 2, Ambjent Complex, Xemxija.
Libya’s state prosecutor had issued a travel ban, saying that Zeidan was to be investigated for “financial corruption and other irregularities”.
Zeidan defied the travel ban and used a state jet to escape. He flew to Malta. The Maltese government told the press that this was just a refuelling stop, that Zeidan “had not sought asylum”, and that within a couple of hours he boarded a private jet for Germany, while the Libyan state plane returned to Tripoli.
When the German embassy in Malta was asked at the time by the press about Zeidan’s flight to Germany, and whether he had sought asylum there, the deputy head of mission said: “The German embassy does not have any information regarding your inquiry.”
Caruana Galizia has also stated that the flat is guarded by armed men who have since March guarded Zeidan round the clock and are provided by the Maltese government, through the Secret Service/police.
In February Zeidan flew to Switzerland without disclosing the purpose of the trip. En route back to Tripoli from Switzerland, he landed briefly in Malta, with the Maltese government telling the press that it was for “technical reasons”.
Government spokesman reiterates Zeidan not in Malta; says security personnel outside apartment a matter of national security
Contacted by this portal a few hours later once again, the same government spokesman said that it is a matter of national security when asked to explain images which surfaced online showing security personnel standing outside the apartment, but did point out once again that Zeidan is not in Malta.
When pressed to say why the security present outside the apartment was about national security, he replied that he is not informed on such issues.
iNews photographer shadowed by four security personnel outside apartment
The GWU portal iNews has reported that when one of its photographers tried to capture an image of the apartment where it was reported Zeidan is residing, the photographer was shadowed by four security officials. The portal also uploaded an image of a security vehicle parked outside the apartment with security officials waiting inside it.
More images of security personnel outside apartment captured
MaltaRightNow, the Nationalist Party's portal has published two images showing security officials standing outside a security vehicle near the apartment. Reports have also surfaced that Zeidan was spotted dining at a Mellieha restaurant.