Four foreign journalists abducted in eastern Libya

[News_Editor]

Four foreign journalists abducted in eastern Libya

2011-04-08 04:40:28 GMT+7 (ICT)

BREGA, LIBYA (BNO NEWS) -- Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi captured four foreign journalists near the eastern town of Brega, international media reported on Thursday.

According to The Atlantic magazine, several Libyan rebels on Tuesday witnessed loyalist troops stop a car carrying two U.S. journalists, and two photographers from Spain and South Africa a few miles outside of Brega, which is currently under government control. The troops took the four journalists to an unknown location, released the driver, and set the car on fire.

One of the journalists, Clare Morgana Gillis, has reported for TheAtlantic.com from Libya. The publication learned of the journalists' capture on Thursday morning and said it is working with the Libyan government and Human Rights Watch to locate them. The U.S. State Department is also working for the journalists' release

"Clare Morgana Gillis was reporting on the situation in Libya on behalf of The Atlantic and other American publications," Atlantic editor James Bennet said. "We appeal to the Libyan authorities for her immediate and safe release, and for that of the three other journalists detained with her."

In late March, four New York Times journalists were captured under similar circumstances and released after six days.

Libya is currently in the midst of a civil war which has so far claimed at least 1,000 and as many as 10,000 lives. The Libyan government has previously compared Western journalists to al-Qaeda supporters and said they could not guarantee their safety.

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