Four reporters held in Libya: TV

DOHA: Four journalists working for Al-Jazeera, one Norwegian and one British, are being held in Tripoli after being arrested in western Libya, Qatar-based satellite channel, said Saturday evening.

Al-Jazeera, al-Lotfi Messaoudi, a Tunisian, Ahmed Vall Ould Addin, a Mauritanian, Ammar al-Hamdan, a cameraman Norwegian and British national Kamel Atalua were arrested while "performing their duties" in western Libya.

A statement on the website of the chain said that the Libyan authorities "will be held responsible for security, safety and welfare of the team."

He added that "regional parties" have been combining their efforts in order to obtain the journalists' release, but did not elaborate.

In Oslo, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Frode Andersen, said they had been informed by Al-Jazeera, a Norwegian journalist was arrested by forces loyal to strong Libyan Muammar Gaddafi.

"We urge that he and his colleagues be released immediately and hold the Libyan authorities entriely responsible for their safety,"he said. (AFP)