to AJELive #AlJazeera: British troops found 200km from any oil facility. Keep up to date with our #Libya liveblog: http://aje.me/e6ya1I #feb17 #gaddafi
7:15pm Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid, reporting from Benghazi, reveals more about those newly released British soldiers - apparently on a "diplomatic mission".
She reports they were found outside the town of Suluq, about 50km south of Benghazi - and at least 200km from any oil installations. British special forces had earlier helped to evacuate oil workers from facilities in the Libyan desert.
The eight were brought back to Benghazi, handed over to the National Council and rebel commanders.
One carried a diplomatic passport, while the other seven did not, confirm sources within the new "Libyan Transitional National Council".
Hoda reports the British said they had entered via the Egyptian border - but none had recent Egyptian entry or exit stamps in their passports.
Instead, Hoda's sources tell her, anti-Gaddafi fighters near Suluq saw a helicopter landing close to them early on Friday, investigated, came across the eight - and picked them up.
While claims of being on a diplomatic mission remain credible, she says, members of the National Council are asking: "Why didn't they just establish direct contact with us?"
While the troops remained tight-lipped when she saw them, Benghazi dock workers told her the first port of call for the HMS Cumberland - which has been evacuating British nationals from Benghazi over the past weeks - would be Malta.
7:15pm Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid, reporting from Benghazi, reveals more about those newly released British soldiers - apparently on a "diplomatic mission".
She reports they were found outside the town of Suluq, about 50km south of Benghazi - and at least 200km from any oil installations. British special forces had earlier helped to evacuate oil workers from facilities in the Libyan desert.
The eight were brought back to Benghazi, handed over to the National Council and rebel commanders.
One carried a diplomatic passport, while the other seven did not, confirm sources within the new "Libyan Transitional National Council".
Hoda reports the British said they had entered via the Egyptian border - but none had recent Egyptian entry or exit stamps in their passports.
Instead, Hoda's sources tell her, anti-Gaddafi fighters near Suluq saw a helicopter landing close to them early on Friday, investigated, came across the eight - and picked them up.
While claims of being on a diplomatic mission remain credible, she says, members of the National Council are asking: "Why didn't they just establish direct contact with us?"
While the troops remained tight-lipped when she saw them, Benghazi dock workers told her the first port of call for the HMS Cumberland - which has been evacuating British nationals from Benghazi over the past weeks - would be Malta.
Source: Al Jazeera Live Blog
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-6-0#update-8276
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-6-0#update-8276
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