Journalists freed from Rixos hotel in Tripoli
All foreign journalists are released from the Rixos hotel in the Libyan capital Tripoli, after being trapped there by pro-Gaddafi forces.
Around 35 international journalists, including British nationals, have now left the Rixos after being held captive by Gaddafi forces for five days.
Heavy fighting and gunfire continued in the streets surrounding the hotel on Wednesday, as rebel forces battled to take full control of the capital. The Rixos hotel just south of the Tripoli city centre appeared to be one of the few parts of the city not under rebel control.
Foreign media inside the hotel had been holed up with limited food and water supplies. Gunmen who had been guarding the group of reporters at the Rixos reportedly surrendered their weapons and left.
‘Complete nightmare’
CNN correspondent Matthew Chance said none of the journalists involved were injured.
He tweeted: “438pm local time: Now pulling out of #rixos hotel after 6 days of a complete nightmare. Still dodgy situation”.
He earlier indicated that the situation may be coming to an end: “410pm local time: After a heart to heart with Arab speaking journos, two Gaddafi guards disarmed. #rixos”.
Watch Jonathan Miller’s report from April on the surreal life inside the Rixos hotel and the “diet of propaganda” fed by the Gaddafi government.
Monitoring developments
Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the release of all international journalists and said he had been monitoring the situation ‘hour by hour’ to ensure their safety.
“It is a great relief that the traumatic ordeal faced by those journalists trapped at the Rixos hotel has now ended and I pay tribute to those whose efforts helped secure the release.
“This episode highlights the real risks journalists continue to take in Libya and across the world every single day in order to get out the truth.
“We have been monitoring the situation hour by hour, in touch with news organisations, the National Transitional Council and others in a position to assist,” he said.
The Rixos hotel was the scene of Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam’s surprise reappearance earlier this week, after he was believed to be captured by rebel forces.
The ICC had confirmed Saif Gaddafi was in rebel hands before later backtracking and saying they were speaking about NTC reports in the media.
