Libya releases British journalist

Manu Brabo (L) and Clare Morgana Gillis speak with Moussa Ibrahim (R) in Tripoli

The Libyan government says it has freed four foreign journalists detained for illegally entering the country.

Two American reporters and a Spanish photographer have been freed. There was some confusion about the identity of the fourth journalist and the fate of a South African photographer is unclear.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said those freed could stay and report in the country, Reuters said.

The Libyan government has been fighting an uprising since February.

The Americans freed are James Foley of GlobalPost and freelancer Clare Morgana Gillis. The Spaniard is Manu Brabo.

All three were detained on 4 April.

The fourth person released was named by news agencies as Briton Nigel Chandler. No-one of that name has been reported missing, although a British journalist called Nigel Taylor was reported missing in March.

Ms Gillis, who writes for the Atlantic and USA Today, told the Associated Press news agency the four were at Tripoli’s Rixos Hotel and were fine.

She said a judge had given them a suspended one-year sentence.

Mr Ibrahim said the four were welcome to stay but would be escorted to the Tunisian border if they wanted to leave.

The fate of South African photographer, Anton Hammerl, also held on 4 April, is still unclear.

Nato is currently carrying out air strikes across Libya under a UN mandate to protect civilians from the forces of Col Muammar Gaddafi, who is trying to crush the three-month-old uprising.

Nato attacks have recently concentrated on what the alliance says are military and logistics hubs in Tripoli.

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