Libya invites foreign firms to buy oil from blocked ports

TRIPOLI - Libyan federalist group invited foreign companies to buy oil from blocked ports in the Libyan eastern region of Cyrenaica granting protection for arriving tankers, as Libyan eastern self-declared government's prime minister announced late on Tuesday.

Speaking on a pro-autonomy television station late on Tuesday, head of autonomous state of Barqa Abdo Rabbo Barassi said that "We welcome global oil companies and the oil security guards will guarantee the safety of tankers". The announcement came one day after a Maltase-flagged oil tanker fell under Libyan Navy's attack as it was approaching the seized Sidra oil port allegedly to load crude.

Barasi stressed that Libyan federalist group was not involved in the Maltese tanker's affaire, saying "The tanker was carrying a license from the interim government".

He underlined that any foreign company dealing with Cyrenaica National Oil Company Bureau will be guaranteed for safe tanker's arrival, loading and departure from Cyrenaica shores up to the international waters through federalist defense forces and Marine units.

The federalist group which is blocking the oil ports in Cyrenaica since last July accusing the Libyan interim government of corruption over the deals cut off with foreign oil companies.