Three Dutch marines have been detained in Libya after they were captured by forces loyal to Muammar Gadafy while trying to rescue two Europeans, a defence ministry spokesman said today.
The marines were captured on Sunday by armed men after they had gone ashore at Sirte with a helicopter from a Dutch naval ship stationed off the coast of Libya to help with evacuations from the North African country, the Dutch defence ministry said.
Dutch public broadcaster NOS showed footage today of the three marines, aired on Libyan state television, which said the men had entered Libyan air space "in breach of international law."
The footage showed blurred images of the helicopter, weapons and the marines.
Defence ministry spokesman Otte Beeksma earlier said Dutch authorities were in "intensive diplomatic negotiations" with Colonel Gadafy's government to secure the release of the marines.
He was not immediately available to comment on the footage.
"It is of the utmost importance that the soldiers come back to our country healthy. That means at the same time that everything that is said about this needs to be restrained," prime minister Mark Rutte had earlier told Dutch media.
Mr Rutte added that the government had been aware of the evacuation mission.
The two Europeans the marines were trying to rescue, including one Dutch national, were handed over to the Dutch embassy in Tripoli yesterday and have now left the country.
Mr Beeksma said the Dutch troops had not sought permission to enter Libyan air space, but added the citizens were rescued out of concern for a worsening security situation in Sirte, located 450 kilometres east of Tripoli.
The identities of the marines were not revealed.
Reuters