Talia Belaid: Mother begs for help to bring baby home

A mother whose estranged husband has been jailed for kidnapping their daughter has begged for help "bringing my baby back".

Talia Belaid was just 15 weeks old when Maher Belaid fled from Barry to Libya with her in 2012 while his wife, Malgorzata, was shopping.

Last week the 34 year old was jailed for six and a half years at Newport Crown Court for abduction.

Ms Belaid told BBC she is determined to bring her daughter home.

"I've been everywhere," she said.

"I've been to embassy in London, they said yes they would help me because it shouldn't be like that, the child should be with its mother but after they did nothing.

"They said they can't find his name in the system.

Talia pictured with her father Maher Belaid

"I have from his mum an email that says that Talia is like her daughter now and she will not give Talia back to me."

Last week, the court heard Belaid believed he had done nothing wrong. He said he had taken Talia to teach his wife "a lesson" and "could take Talia when he wanted and it was no problem for him".

Ms Belaid said she does not have many photos of Talia, the last time she saw her properly, she was nearly four months old.

"Sometime he sent me photos, to make me more sad I think. I've lost everything," she said.

It was during a family trip to Cardiff two years ago that Belaid told his wife he was taking Talia with him to meet friends for a coffee while she shopped.

'Tried everything'

But he flew to his family in Libya instead and Talia now calls her grandmother "mum".

"I called them many times but when they hear me they switch off the phone," Ms Belaid said.

"I think I've tried everything but I will ask everyone, please try bringing my baby back."

The British Embassy in Libya's capital, Tripoli, has temporarily closed due to the violence there and can no longer give consular assistance to Ms Belaid.

But she is determined to have her daughter home and has written to the Prime Minister David Cameron asking for help.

A government spokesman said consular assistance had been provided and it was working closely with the UK police and Libyan authorities.

"The British Embassy in Tripoli has temporarily closed and is no longer able to provide consular assistance. However we are providing all the assistance we can at this difficult time," he added.