Signs of militias becoming unstuck in Libya?
Two British journalists along with two local men have been arrested in Libya.
The two young men are Gareth Montgomery-Johnson a cameraman and his colleague Nicholas Davie-Jones, a reporter. Both are working in Tripoli for the Iranian network Press TV and it appears they were arrested in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Libyan capital Tripoli and are being held by the Misurata Brigade militia.
Oddly in this case, I have direct experience and knowledge of both sides in this curious affair of which more a little later. But in immediate terms the Foreign Office have confirmed the arrests and an official there told me the FO is “not unduly concerned”. Same official kept telling me “we are playing this one very straight” which I eventually divined as meaning they are treating it rather more like someone who has fallen foul of foreign red-tape than someone kidnapped by a bunch of gun-toting militia.
That the Misurata Brigade is a gun-toting militia however, is indisputable as someone who filmed alongside them as they fought for that coastal city during the Libyan Civil War and then caught up with them later on in Tripoli where they fought again to oust Colonel Gaddafi and appear to have remained there ever since in some numbers.
I’ve also met Gareth, an engaging, young, enthusiastic and clearly talented man keen to make his mark. We shared a pleasant lunch a few months back near ITN’s London HQ and he explained to me his plans for Libya and whether or not he should stay. I felt strongly that the patchwork of militias in the city could become a little unstuck as sharing power proves more complex than simply seizing it from an agreed bogeyman. I said it would be a good place to be for some months to come. I was concerned he would be seeking further adventures in somewhere like Syria.
Of course we don’t know why they and two local men identified only as Muhammed and Assad were arrested, though the early hour suggests definite planning and intent on Misurata’s part, rather than the kind of street-misunderstanding which can often happen as we go about our business.
The FO says it is attempting to get consular assistance to the two British citizens though it is not clear whether or not any British government official has actually had access to the men.
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