TWO British journalists detained by a Libyan militia group last month after being accused of spying have been freed, the country’s Interior Ministry announced today.
Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson were siezed on 22 February by the Swelhi Brigade, one of the groups which helped force Colonel Muammar Gaddafi from power last year.
Earlier this week it was confirmed that the men, who had been working as freelancers with the Iranian state-owned Press TV, were transferred to the custody of the Libyan government.
Today deputy interior minister Omar al-Khadrawi told a news conference in Tripoli: “The interior ministry granted their release when it became obvious that no crime had been committed.”
He added: “They have expressed a desire to leave Libya.”
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Faraj Swehli said suspicious conduct by the journalists led his men to track them as they moved around Tripoli and conducted interviews at various government ministries.
The freed journalists sat alongside Khadrawi at today’s press conference – they appeared tired but healthy and were later seen leaving the ministry building in a British embassy car.
The militia finally handed the men over to the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, after weeks of negotiations and pressure from human rights groups.
Khadrawi appeared to defend the militia’s actions, saying: “What happened could not be considered as a kidnapping by revolutionaries.”
He added that the former rebels had been acting in the interests of state security.
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Neither of the two journalists was given the opportunity to speak to the press.
Asked if his captors had treated him well, Montgomery-Johnson simply nodded.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We welcome the release of the two British journalists who have recently been detained in Libya.
“Foreign Office officials are providing them with consular assistance which we have done throughout.
“The men are in the care of consular staff, they are well and look forward to being reunited with their families soon.”