Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan has been
released hours after being seized by militiamen,
the government says.
A former rebel group loosely allied to the government,
the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room, had
detained Mr Zeidan claiming to act on orders from the
prosecutor general.
The justice ministry denied this.
The militia was one of several groups angered by a US
commando raid on Libyan soil on Saturday which
seized senior al-Qaeda suspect Anas al-Liby.
Many saw the US raid as a breach of Libyan
sovereignty, and there is growing pressure on the
government to explain if it was involved.
However the exact motives for Mr Zeidan's detention
remain unclear. In a statement, the Revolutionaries
Operations Room (LROR) said its actions had not been
related to Mr Liby's detention.
'No warrant'
Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz told AFP news
agency that Mr Zeidan had been freed, but added: "We
have no details so far on the circumstances of his
release."
A government spokesman quoted by official Libyan
news agency Lana earlier said the prime minister was
free and on his way to his office.
Mr Zeidan had been taken in a pre-dawn raid on the
Corinthia Hotel by more than 100 armed men.
The LROR said it was acting on the orders of the
prosecutor general and in accordance with Libya's
criminal code.
However, state-run National Libyan TV quoted Justice
Minister Salah al-Marghani as saying that the
prosecutor general had issued no arrest warrant.
State TV broadcast images showing Mr Zeidan
surrounded by what it said were armed men as he was
led away. There were no reports of violence during his
capture.
The prime minister was reportedly being held at the
interior ministry anti-crime department in Tripoli,
where an official said he was being treated well.
The LROR is one of a number of militias operating in
Libya - it is nominally attached to government
ministries but often acts independently and,
correspondents say, often has the upper hand over
police and army forces.
The government has been struggling to contain such
militias who control many parts of the country, two
years after the revolt that overthrew Col Muammar
Gaddafi.
In a news conference shortly before the release was
announced, the government condemned the "criminal
act" of his detention and said it would not give in to
"blackmail".
Libyan politician Guma al-Gamaty told the BBC earlier
said the arrest of Mr Liby had sparked anger on the
Libyan streets.
"Accusations have been pointed at the prime minister
that there is some sort of a collusion - that the prime
minister knew in advance that Abu Anas al-Liby was
going to be kidnapped," he said.
On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the
US ambassador over the arrest of Mr Liby, who is
wanted in the US over the 1998 bombings of US
embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The prime minister had earlier this week appeal for
Western help in tackling rising militancy in Libya.
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, he said Libya
was being used as a base to export weapons throughout
the region.
released hours after being seized by militiamen,
the government says.
A former rebel group loosely allied to the government,
the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room, had
detained Mr Zeidan claiming to act on orders from the
prosecutor general.
The justice ministry denied this.
The militia was one of several groups angered by a US
commando raid on Libyan soil on Saturday which
seized senior al-Qaeda suspect Anas al-Liby.
Many saw the US raid as a breach of Libyan
sovereignty, and there is growing pressure on the
government to explain if it was involved.
However the exact motives for Mr Zeidan's detention
remain unclear. In a statement, the Revolutionaries
Operations Room (LROR) said its actions had not been
related to Mr Liby's detention.
'No warrant'
Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz told AFP news
agency that Mr Zeidan had been freed, but added: "We
have no details so far on the circumstances of his
release."
A government spokesman quoted by official Libyan
news agency Lana earlier said the prime minister was
free and on his way to his office.
Mr Zeidan had been taken in a pre-dawn raid on the
Corinthia Hotel by more than 100 armed men.
The LROR said it was acting on the orders of the
prosecutor general and in accordance with Libya's
criminal code.
However, state-run National Libyan TV quoted Justice
Minister Salah al-Marghani as saying that the
prosecutor general had issued no arrest warrant.
State TV broadcast images showing Mr Zeidan
surrounded by what it said were armed men as he was
led away. There were no reports of violence during his
capture.
The prime minister was reportedly being held at the
interior ministry anti-crime department in Tripoli,
where an official said he was being treated well.
The LROR is one of a number of militias operating in
Libya - it is nominally attached to government
ministries but often acts independently and,
correspondents say, often has the upper hand over
police and army forces.
The government has been struggling to contain such
militias who control many parts of the country, two
years after the revolt that overthrew Col Muammar
Gaddafi.
In a news conference shortly before the release was
announced, the government condemned the "criminal
act" of his detention and said it would not give in to
"blackmail".
Libyan politician Guma al-Gamaty told the BBC earlier
said the arrest of Mr Liby had sparked anger on the
Libyan streets.
"Accusations have been pointed at the prime minister
that there is some sort of a collusion - that the prime
minister knew in advance that Abu Anas al-Liby was
going to be kidnapped," he said.
On Monday, Libya demanded an explanation from the
US ambassador over the arrest of Mr Liby, who is
wanted in the US over the 1998 bombings of US
embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The prime minister had earlier this week appeal for
Western help in tackling rising militancy in Libya.
In an interview with the BBC on Monday, he said Libya
was being used as a base to export weapons throughout
the region.
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