AFP Journalists Arrested in Libya

2011-03-24 7

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Agence France-Presse has confirmed that three journalists, including two of their own, have been arrested while covering the Libyan conflict. Here's more.

The Libyan army has detained three journalists covering the fighting in Libya.

Agence France-Presse, AFP, confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of their two correspondents and a photographer from Getty Images.

[Philippe Massonnet, AFP, Head of Information]:
"What we learnt this morning is what really happened -- their arrest by the Libyan army."

Dave Clark, a reporter based at AFP Paris headquarters and Roberto Schmidt, a photographer of the Nairobi bureau were arrested while traveling in an area about 30 kilometers outside of the city of Tobruk on Saturday.

They were accompanied by Joe Raedle, a photographer working for Getty Images. The three were on their way to meet opponents of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and to speak to refugees fleeing the fighting.

[Philippe Massonnet, AFP, Head of Information]:
"The only thing I can say is that we are doing everything we can to obtain the release of Dave and Roberto and Joe. You know what the diplomatic situation is like, you know the situation between France and Libya, etc. Diplomatic contacts are being made, they are in process."

Massonnet also says that other countries might get involved in negotiating their release.

[Philippe Massonnet, AFP, Head of Information]:
"Dave Clark, our text journalist, is British, Roberto Schmidt, our photographer, is Colombian and German, Joe Raedle is American. That means that many countries could be involved in this case."