Detained journalist’s sister makes plea

The sister of one of two British journalists held by a Libyan militia has urged the government to keep up pressure over the case after they were accused of spying on facilities.

Nicholas Davies-Jones and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson were captured in the capital of Tripoli on 21 February while working as freelancers with the Iranian state-owned Press TV. On Sunday night the head of the militia holding them accused them of spying on government facilities and entering the country illegally.

Farah Swehli, who commands the Misrata-based Saraya Swehli militia, said his men must protect the country because the government is unable to do so.

Mr Montgomery-Johnson’s sister, Mel Gribble, of Carmarthen, said yesterday: “As time goes on, it’s becoming ever more distressing. I’m assured our government is doing its best, but we don’t want them to dwindle on it, we want them to keep up the pressure like a broken record.”

Amnesty International Middle East and North Africa deputy director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said: “The detention of these journalists is unlawful and arbitrary, and their captors must either release them immediately or transfer them into the custody of the central Libyan authorities.”