Libya released four Western journalists on Wednesday, two are Americans, one from the U.K., and another from Spain, according media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The Americans—freelance reporter Clare Morgana Gillis writing for The Atlantic and USA Today, and James Foley of GlobalPost—as well as Spanish photographer Manu Brabo were abducted on April 5 by pro-Gadhafi forces near Brega, according to RSF. Nigel Chandler of the U.K. was also detained and released along with the other three.
The Libyan government confirmed the release of the journalists.
According to RSF, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim had announced on Tuesday the release of four journalists, but the forth was named as South African freelance photographer Anton Hammerl, not Chandler. Ibrahim later said to the media that there had been a “mix-up” with the names and that Hammerl had not been located.
The journalists were brought before an administrative court where they were charged with entering the country illegally and were fined $174, according to information obtained by RSF.
Since the start of the uprising in Libya on Feb. 16, many journalists have entered the country across the Egyptian border without permission to cover developments from rebel-held areas. In comments on Feb. 21, Moammar Gadhafi said he regarded such journalists as al-Qaeda accomplices and “stray dogs.” At the same time, the government has invited foreign journalists to Tripoli to relay its own propaganda.
RSF reports that three foreign journalists working are still held: Britain’s Kamel Ataloua with Al Jazeera, Tunisian-Canadian Lotfi Ghars working for Al-Alam TV, and freelance American Matthew VanDyke. Also held are six Libyan journalists.
The Americans—freelance reporter Clare Morgana Gillis writing for The Atlantic and USA Today, and James Foley of GlobalPost—as well as Spanish photographer Manu Brabo were abducted on April 5 by pro-Gadhafi forces near Brega, according to RSF. Nigel Chandler of the U.K. was also detained and released along with the other three.
The Libyan government confirmed the release of the journalists.
According to RSF, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim had announced on Tuesday the release of four journalists, but the forth was named as South African freelance photographer Anton Hammerl, not Chandler. Ibrahim later said to the media that there had been a “mix-up” with the names and that Hammerl had not been located.
The journalists were brought before an administrative court where they were charged with entering the country illegally and were fined $174, according to information obtained by RSF.
Since the start of the uprising in Libya on Feb. 16, many journalists have entered the country across the Egyptian border without permission to cover developments from rebel-held areas. In comments on Feb. 21, Moammar Gadhafi said he regarded such journalists as al-Qaeda accomplices and “stray dogs.” At the same time, the government has invited foreign journalists to Tripoli to relay its own propaganda.
RSF reports that three foreign journalists working are still held: Britain’s Kamel Ataloua with Al Jazeera, Tunisian-Canadian Lotfi Ghars working for Al-Alam TV, and freelance American Matthew VanDyke. Also held are six Libyan journalists.
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