Britons now held by government

Two British journalists detained by a Libyan militia on suspicion of spying have been transferred to the custody of the government.

Nicholas Davies-Jones and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, who were working for Iran’s English-language Press TV, were detained on 22 February by the Swehli brigade, one of the dozens of militias which last year helped force out Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi.

Earlier this month, the Swehli militia said that the Britons, who were initially detained for illegal entry into Libya, were now suspected of spying.

“The British journalists are in our custody and will be released following procedural interrogation,” deputy interior minister Omar al-Khadrawi said yesterday.

“If no crime has been committed, they will be released soon,” he added.