Libya: 'SAS Unit And Diplomat Held Hostage'

[Andross]

Up to eight members of an SAS unit and a British diplomat have been detained in Libya, it has been reported.


According to the Sunday Times, the elite soldiers are believed to have been escorting the junior diplomat through a rebel-held area in the east of Libya when they were taken hostage.

It is understood that all have now been transported to the rebel-stronghold of Benghazi.

The SAS's intervention has allegedly angered Libyan opposition figures who ordered the armed and plain-clothes soldiers to be locked up on a military base.

Opponents of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's fear he could use any evidence of western military interference to rally patriotic support for his regime.

Sky News defence correspondent Niall Paterson said: "Neither the Foreign Office nor Ministry of Defence are as yet saying anything about this matter.

"But people I have spoken to give me no reason to doubt the report."

"The Sunday Times said they were there to establish diplomatic relations with the opposition movement."

Paterson added that the issue of rebel groups encouraging foreign involvement is an extremely sensitive issue in Libya.

A successful conclusion to the incident is expected to occur.

Paterson said: "The feeling in London is that the rebels who have taken the SAS members and junior diplomat are simply making a point.

"There is no feeling this will end badly."

Up To Eight SAS Soldiers And British Diplomat Taken Hostage In Libya According To The Sunday Times | World News | Sky News

 

[foxhound]

Salaam....

ref:Libya: SAS soldiers 'held by Libyan rebels' - Telegraph

Libya: SAS soldiers 'held by Libyan rebels'An SAS unit was being held by rebel forces in Libya, it was reported today.

Armed protesters in Benghazi are rumoured to have set up military training camps in the eastern city Photo: EPA8:00AM GMT 06 Mar 2011
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Up to eight soldiers were captured as they escorted a junior British diplomat through rebel-held territory in the east of the country, the Sunday Times said.

Spokesmen for both the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office would neither confirm nor deny the report.

According to the newspaper, the SAS soldiers were taken by rebels to Benghazi, the largest city held by the opposition, where they were detained.

It is said the diplomat had intended to contact Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's opponents ahead of a visit by a senior colleague to establish diplomatic relations with the rebels.

But the SAS intervention is thought to have angered Libyan opposition figures.

The claims came to light as the battle for control of the country continued to rage amid growing fears over the impact of instability in the region on oil prices.

Fierce fighting was under way in the city of Zawiya, just 50 miles from the capital Tripoli, as rebels struggled to repel an assault by Gaddafi forces.

Meanwhile, insurgents were reported to have taken control of the oil port of Ras Lanuf after a series of bloody engagements, a key strategic site.

With the fate of the country hanging in the balance and a full-blown civil war on the cards, a British minister warned over the impact on fuel costs.

Brent Crude has already risen to 116 dollars in response to months of unrest across the Gulf and North Africa.

But Alan Duncan, a former oil trader, suggested the price could yet top 200 dollars a barrel - significantly above the current record of 147 dollars from July 2008.

In a worst-case scenario where terrorists exploit the turmoil in the Gulf to bomb tankers and reserves, the price could even nudge 250 dollars, which would leave UK motorists paying some £2.03 at the pumps.

''I've been saying in government for two months that if this does go wrong, £1.30 at the pump could look like a luxury,'' Mr Duncan told The Times.

''Two hundred dollars is on the cards if... anyone is reckless and foments unrest.''

The international development minister added: ''It could be very serious. If crude oil doubles, you're going to have a serious spike (in petrol prices). Try living without it for a week.''

Yesterday's assault on Zawiya, a city of some 200,000 people, reportedly began with a surprise dawn attack by pro-Gaddafi forces firing mortar shells and machine guns.

Witnesses said the shelling damaged government buildings and homes. The fighting sparked several fires, sending a cloud of heavy black smoke over the city.

According to a doctor in the city, 12 people died in hospital and at least 60 others were injured.

Initially, the rebels retreated to deeper positions, before launching a counter offensive in which they reportedly regained some of the lost territory.

By mid afternoon, the rebels had reoccupied central Martyrs' Square while the pro-regime forces were believed to have regrouped on the city's fringes, sealing off access routes.

The anti-Gaddafi rebels were said to have fared better in Ras Lanuf last night, where they seized control after forcing pro-regime troops to flee. The port could act as an important staging post for an assault on Tripoli

 

[foxhound]

ref:'SAS unit' captured in Libya | World news | The Guardian

'SAS unit' captured in LibyaDefence secretary Liam Fox says 'small diplomatic team' is in Benghazi to talk to rebels

Share51 Martin Chulov, Polly Curtis and Amy Fallon guardian.co.uk, Sunday 6 March 2011 11.27 GMT Article history
The children of a soldier hold his guns in the air as pro-Gaddafi supporters gather in Green Square, Tripoli, Libya. Photograph: Ben Curtis/AP

The defence secretary, Liam Fox, has confirmed that a "small diplomatic team" is in Benghazi to talk to Libyan rebels but refused to confirm reports that any British nationals had been detained.

According to Guardian sources, a suspected British intelligence and special forces unit, which parachuted in about four days ago, was caught near the town of Khandra, about 30km west of Benghazi.

A senior member of Benghazi's revolutionary council said: "They were carrying espionage equipment, reconnaissance equipment, multiple passports and weapons. This is no way to conduct yourself during an uprising.

"Gaddafi is bringing in thousands of mercenaries to kill us, most are using foreign passports and how do we know who these people are?

"They say they're British nationals and some of the passports they have are British. But the Israelis used British passports to kill that man in Dubai last year."

Rebel leaders claimed the captives were being treated well and would be released as soon as the British government vouched for their identity with the rebel command.

The news follows Sunday Times claims that an SAS unit was being held by rebel forces it had approached in an attempt to open up diplomatic channels to opponents of Muammar Gaddafi.

Fox refused to give any more details on the diplomatic team's mission in the eastern area of the country, which is controlled by rebel forces "We are in touch with them but I'm not going to be giving further comment on that."

Whitehall sources said on Friday it needed to learn more about the leadership of the anti-Gaddafi forces and find out what logistical support it needed, but would not give arms to the rebels, as an international arms embargo was in place.

Fox said: "It is a very difficult situation to be able to understand in detail. There are a number of different opposition groups to Colonel Gaddafi in Libya who do seem relatively disparate.

"We want to clearly understand what the dynamic is here because we want to be able to work with them to ensure the demise of the Gaddafi regime, to see a transition to greater stability in Libya and ultimately to more representative government.

"So getting a picture of that is relatively difficult as is widely reported. Communications are being interrupted, there are difficulties with mobile phones, with the internet potentially being interfered with.

"So we are trying to build a picture, it's essential that the government does that and it's essential that all western governments do that so we are able to get a clearer idea of what we are able to do in terms of helping the people of Libya."

The Sunday Times reports Libyan and British sources confirming the SAS unit was detained by rebel forces it had approached to secure a meeting with a junior diplomat to offer help in their fight against Gaddafi. The mission backfired when rebel leaders in Benghazi objected to foreign interference from governments which had not yet formally recognised them as Libya's legitimate rulers, it said.

Spokesmen for the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office refused to confirm or deny the Sunday Times report.

The international development secretary, Andrew Mitchell, refused to comment about the SAS unit when questioned on Radio 5 Live.

When asked if it was possible a diplomat was there for talks, he replied: "It is perfectly possible that the Foreign Office will be trying to open links with all the rebel forces there."

The foreign secretary, William Hague, urged Gaddafi to put an "immediate stop" to the use of armed force against Libyans.

"Given the continued levels of illegitimate violence within Libya we call upon Colonel Gaddafi to put an immediate stop to the use of armed force against the Libyan people," he said.

"He must hand over power without delay to a government which fully recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people.

"The UK reiterates its support for the transition to a government that will deliver greater democracy, justice, transparency, human rights and accountability in Libya."

Heavy gunfire has erupted in Tripoli, with hundreds of Gaddafi's supporters pouring into the streets. Libyan authorities said the gunfire was to celebrate the recapture of cities including Ras Lanuf.