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Red Cross official killed in Libya, prompting suspension of operations

The ICRC condemned the "heinous attack" that killed staff member Michael Greub on Wednesday. The attack prompted the Red Cross in Libya to temporarily suspend its operations.

By JC Finley

TRIPOLI, Libya, June 5 (UPI) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross is "devastated and outraged" by the murder of staff member Michael Greub in Libya on Wednesday.

The 42 year-old Greub, a Swiss national, had been in Libya since March as the head of the ICRC's Misrata sub-delegation. On Wednesday, after leaving a meeting in Sirte with two colleagues, their vehicle was attacked by armed gunmen. Greub was fatally wounded, his colleagues uninjured.

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"The ICRC vigorously condemns this heinous attack," ICRC Director-General Yves Daccord stated.

Daccord described Greub as "a devoted humanitarian who spent many years of his life helping others." He had worked with ICRC for more than seven years and had served in Gaza, Iraq, Sudan, and Yemen.

On Thursday, the ICRC announced via Twitter that it was "Temporarily suspending our activities in Libya," and noted that it was "Too early to say what consequences the murder of our colleague will have in the long term."

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