Two Britons held as spies

Two British journalists working for Iran’s Press TV who were detained late last month in Libya are suspected of being spies, the head of the militia holding them said yesterday.

Faraj al-Swelhi, the commander of the Swelhi brigade, said they had found among the journalists’ possessions official Libyan documents, equipment used by the Israeli military and footage of them firing weapons.

“We believe they are spies,” Swelhi said in Tripoli. He said it was too early to say what country they were spying for.

“After we have finished the investigation we are going to transfer them to the state authorities to pursue the legal process against them.”

The two have been named as Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson.