Carr concerned for Melinda Taylor
ACCESS must be given immediately to an Australian lawyer under arrest in Libya, Foreign Minister Bob Carr said on Tuesday.
Senator Carr said he was very concerned with reports that International Criminal Court lawyer Melinda Taylor and three colleagues were moved from house arrest to an unknown Libyan prison.
He said it was now essential for Libyan authorities to grant immediate consular access to Ms Taylor and her colleagues, who have diplomatic immunity due to their role in The Hague.
"The Australian Government is working for Ms Taylor's immediate release," he said.
"There is a need for caution in all public statements on a matter such as this.
"However, the Australian Government is very concerned that Ms Taylor has reportedly been moved, and has so far not been permitted contact with either a representative of the Australian Government, the ICC or her family."
Australia's Ambassador to Libya, David Ritchie, is in Tripoli today and is seeking urgent access to Ms Taylor.
The Ambassador will also be liaising with senior Libyan officials and the team sent by the ICC to provide support to Ms Taylor and her colleagues.
Libyan authorities have previously said they were concerned Ms Taylor may have been a spy, an allegation denied by the ICC.
