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Two Libyan journalists covering clashes near Tripoli for a private television channel were arrested by a group loyal to strong man Khalifa Haftar, their employers and Reporters Without Borders said Friday.
The two journalists were arrested Thursday and their fate remains unknown, said Friday the monitoring group of international media and local television channel Libya al-Ahrar.
In a statement, Libya al-Ahrar expressed "deep concern" over their disappearance, saying that she had lost contact with the two journalists – whom she named Mohamad al-Gurj and Mohamad al-Chibani – Thursday afternoon while they were covering the fighting.
The so-called Libyan National Army (LNA) of Haftar launched an April 4 offensive against the Tripoli-based National Accord Government (GNA).
Forces loyal to the internationally recognized GNA launched a counteroffensive that culminated in a deadlock in the southern suburbs of the capital.
Libya al-Ahrar, a pro-GNA channel, said the journalists "were captured by elements loyal to" Haftar.
"They were taken to an unknown place," the channel added.
Libya al-Ahrar was created in 2011, in opposition to dictator Moamer Gaddafi, who had been deposed and killed that year during a NATO-backed uprising.
The oil-rich country has sunk into chaos, characterized by a bewildering number of militias – some aligned with the unity government, others related to Haftar and others without absolute loyalty – competing for the Influence, as well as external powers.
Reporters Without Borders announced that the two journalists had been "arrested by Al Kaniat Brigade, affiliated with General Haftar's army" in the Assaidia region, about 50 kilometers southwest of the city. capital city.
The media monitoring body added that he "had been informed of their detention in Tarhuna, a town located 80 km southeast of Tripoli and which is the center of General Haftar's operations in the area." West of Libya ".
Both Reporters Without Borders and Libya al-Ahrar demanded the immediate release of journalists.
"We call on all armed forces and militias in the field to respect international law and not to target the media," said Souhaieb Khayati, head of the North Africa desk of the watchdog.
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