U.S. demands unconditional release of Libya dissident

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday urged Libya to release without conditions an ailing political dissident now recovering in a Tripoli hospital.

Fathi al-Jahmi, a former provincial governor who has been in detention for four years, was transferred earlier this month to a medical center where he is being treated for diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

A senior State Department official, Jeffrey Feltman, said Washington, which is seeking closer ties with Tripoli, was encouraged by Jahmi's move to the medical center but he hoped the matter could soon be resolved "for good."

"As we have said many times, we believe that Mr. Jahmi should be freed unconditionally, should be allowed to travel freely and seek medical care wherever he chooses," Feltman told a conference on Libya held in Washington.

Feltman, who called for the release of all political prisoners in Libya, said human rights were an important part of the dialogue between the two countries, which restored diplomatic ties after Tripoli gave up its weapons of mass destruction program in 2003.

The State Department said in a statement released later that the Libyan government needed to fulfill its promise and release the prominent activist.

"His release would signal to the international community that Libya is seriously committed to improving its human rights record," said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

Youssef Sawani, executive director of a foundation run by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's family that helped with the transfer to the medical center, said Jahmi had been given full access to his relatives while in the hospital.