Moscow working to release Russians detained in Libya

Russia is doing its best to secure the release of Russian and Ukrainian citizens detained in Libya for possible support of Gaddafi loyalists, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. On August 27, two Russians and two Ukrainians, employees of a Libyan-based service company, were detained in Tripoli, the spokesman said. "On September 3, due to the efforts of our embassy in Tripoli, this group was released, but on September 6 these people were again detained for... their possible involvement in maintaining armored vehicles for the pro-Gaddafi forces." "The Russian Foreign Ministry and our embassy in Tripoli are taking the necessary steps for the soonest release of Russians from jail and their placement in Russia's diplomatic mission until...they are granted permission to return home," the spokesman said. No official charges have yet been brought against the Russians and Ukrainians, the diplomat said.