South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl was not among four detained journalists freed by Libya on Wednesday, even though the SA ambassador was waiting for him at the hotel where they were freed.
A spokesperson for the Libyan government said instead that Hammerl’s whereabouts were unknown.
Two Americans, a Briton and a Spaniard were freed by the Gaddafi regime, arriving at the capital’s Rixos Hotel on Wednesday afternoon.
American James Foley of GlobalPost, an online news agency, and freelance writer Clare Morgana Gillis, as well as Spanish photographer Manu Brabo disappeared along with Hammerl on April 4 while covering the conflict in Libya.
They were released along with Briton Nigel Chandler, about whom no details were immediately available.
The four looked tired but appeared to be in good health.
The freed journalists were taken directly to a room near the reception but colleagues were prevented from meeting them. “They told me they do not want to talk to the press. They are nervous and need rest,” said government spokesperson Mussa Ibrahim.
The Spanish foreign ministry said in a statement it “welcomes” the release of Brabo. It said he is in “good health” and is to be driven to the border with Tunisia on Thursday from where he will return to Spain.
On Tuesday, had Ibrahim said the two Americans, Spaniards and a South African, Anton Hammerl, were to be released imminently.
However, there was no immediate information on the fate of Hammerl, who was also detained on April 4, even though the South African ambassador was at the hotel waiting for him.
Mussa on Wednesday referred to “confusion” about the journalists and said Hammerl’s whereabouts were unknown.
The previous day, he said that “four journalists were tried by an administrative tribunal and were given one-year suspended prison sentences, and a fine of 200 dinars (about R1 000) each for illegal entry into the country”.
“There are some administrative procedures to complete. They will be freed very soon,” added Ibrahim, who appeared at the time to be referring to Hammerl as part of the group. — AFP