Two British journalists working for Iran's English-language Press TV are being held for illegal entry and possible espionage, according to the commander of the Libyan militia that has detained them, The Telegraph reported.
"With regards to the two detainees from Britain, they were in Libya illegally, without a visa or entry stamp," Faraj Swehli told reporters, adding that the men detained last month were still being questioned because incriminating evidence had been found in their possession.
The Swehli militia of Misurata, which also has operatives in Tripoli, seized Nicholas Davies and Gareth Montgomery-Johnson while they were reportedly filming in the capital, according to rights groups that have called for their release.
Britain's foreign office said it was aware that two British nationals had been detained.
"We are providing consular assistance and we continue to have consular access to the Britons involved," the statement said.
Militia commander Swehli said that the suspicious conduct of the journalists led his men to track the pair as they moved around Tripoli and conducted interviews with various ministries of the interim government.
The commander confirmed that the journalists had been detained because they were found filming in a sensitive area of the city at approximately 2:00 am (0000 GMT) nearly two weeks ago.
