Woman sued for rape claims

A Libyan woman who told the world she was gang raped by Muammar Gaddafi’s troops will face criminal charges.

A government spokesman said the men accused by Iman al-Obeidi are now suing her. A son of a high ranking Libyan official was among those she claimed had raped her, he said.

“The boys she accused are bringing a case against her because it’s a very grave offence to accuse someone of a sexual crime,” he said.

Ms Al-Obeidi told foreign media she was raped by 15 soldiers manning a checkpoint in Tripoli.

As she started to tell her story, she was tackled by government minders and dragged away from the hotel and has been missing since. Her parents claim she is being held hostage at Gaddafi’s compound in the Libyan capital.

Libyan authorities have alternately labelled her a drunk, a prostitute and a thief.

Her mother said she received a phone call, purportedly from the Gaddafi camp, telling her Ms al-Obeidi is held at the Tripoli compound and asking her to instruct her daughter to change the rape claim in return for freedom and other benefits such as money or a new house.