Two British journalists detained in Libya

[xchrom]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/25/uk-libya-journalists-idUKTRE81O0B620120225

(Reuters) - Libyan militiamen have detained two British journalists working for Iran's Press TV and are now holding them in the capital Tripoli, officials and the media station said.

Press TV said on its website a reporter and cameraman along with two local residents were seized Wednesday by a brigade in the coastal town of Misrata, whose rebel fighters fought in last year's war which ousted Muammar Gaddafi.

It said it had not been in contact with the four since Tuesday. It identified the two British men as Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson.

A source at the Libyan Interior Ministry confirmed they were being held by a Misrata brigade in Tripoli.

[leveymg]

1. Recced for visibility.

[riverwalker]

2. some details from Alex Thomson

http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/signs-militias-unstuck-libya/746

"Oddly in this case, I have direct experience and knowledge of both sides in this curious affair of which more a little later. But in immediate terms the Foreign Office have confirmed the arrests and an official there told me the FO is “not unduly concerned”. Same official kept telling me “we are playing this one very straight” which I eventually divined as meaning they are treating it rather more like someone who has fallen foul of foreign red-tape than someone kidnapped by a bunch of gun-toting militia."

[xchrom]

3. Lol! That settles it then. The FO is in control. Nt

[Eugene]

4. Reuters: Detained British journalists handed over to Libyan government

Source: Reuters

Detained British journalists handed over to Libyan government

By Ali Shuaib and Marie-Louise Gumuchian

TRIPOLI | Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:32am EDT

(Reuters) - Two British journalists detained by a Libyan militia on suspicion of spying have been transferred to the custody of the government, deputy interior minister Omar al-Khadrawi said on Wednesday.

Nicholas Davies-Jones and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, who were working for Iran's English-language Press TV, were detained on February 22 by the Swehli brigade, one of the dozens of militias which last year helped force out Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Earlier this month, the Swehli militia said the Britons, initially detained for illegal entry into Libya, were now suspected of spying.

"The British journalists are in our custody and will be released following procedural interrogation," Khadrawi told Reuters. "If no crime has been committed, they will be released soon."

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/14/us-libya-britain-journalists-idUSBRE82D0QQ20120314