Dozens of Tunisians Held by Libya Militia Freed

Dozens of Tunisians who had been detained in Libya by a militia were set free in the capital Tripoli on Thursday, officials said.

Mohamed Abdelsalam al-Kuwiri, who heads a unit in the Tripoli-based government that combats illegal migration, said his officers helped secure the release of 42 Tunisians.

He said the group and other Tunisians had been detained over the past few days, but declined to identify those holding them or say why they were arrested.

Another member of the unit said that in all 150 Tunisians had been detained in the past few days and that 42 were released on Thursday "after their documents were checked to make sure they were in order."

An AFP journalist said he saw a group of youths arrive at the unit dealing with illegal migrants in Tripoli and that moments later they left the building, apparently released.

Tunisian officials said on Monday that negotiations were under way for the release of 172 nationals held by the Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) militia alliance which controls Tripoli and third city Misrata.

The Tunisian consul in Tripoli, Ibrahim Rezgui, said 172 Tunisians were being held as bargaining chips for a militia commander, Walid el-Klibi, who was detained last Thursday in Tunis.

Libya has been wracked by conflict since the 2011 overthrow of veteran strongman Moammar Gadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising, with rival governments and powerful militias battling for power.