Ban Ki-moon harshly criticized the Libyan judiciary

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has seriously questioned the justice system in Libya, appealing to the country's authorities to release or charge about 7.000 prisoners, most of whom were detained during last year's revolution, which overthrew and killed leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In the report he submitted to the UN Security Council on Monday, Ban Ki-moon assessed that the parliamentary elections on July 7 represented a "cornerstone" for the transition of Libya into a modern and democratic country.

Ban Ki-moon, however, as reported by the Associated Press agency, emphasized that Libya is facing serious political and security challenges, due to the new outbreak of several conflicts and growing instability in the east of the country.

Of the approximately 7.000 prisoners in Libya, 3.000 are in institutions managed by the Ministry of Justice, while 2.600 are held in prisons under the jurisdiction of local military councils or security committees.

The Secretary-General expressed serious concern about the length of sentences served and the treatment of prisoners. In the report, he cited several cases of ill-treatment and torture of prisoners, including an April 13 incident in which three men died in a correctional facility run by local authorities in Misrata.

"Assurances by Libyan officials that incidents involving ill-treatment and torture will be investigated and duly punished have not led to effective action," Ban said.

He specified that out of about 7.000 prisoners in Libya, 3.000 are in institutions managed by the Ministry of Justice, while 2.600 prisoners are in prisons under the jurisdiction of local military councils or security committees.

Ban, who did not disclose the whereabouts of the other prisoners, said most of those listed have not been charged and are subject to mistreatment.

"I appeal to the country's leadership to speed up measures...to charge prisoners related to (last year's) conflict or to release them, so that no one is detained illegally," the UN Secretary General said.