Moscow seeks release of two Russians held in Libya

Moscow, April 10 (IANS) The foreign ministry Tuesday said it was doing its best to seek the release of two Russians held in Libya and accused of supporting the erstwhile Muammar Gaddafi regime.

Libya's current authorities charged the two Russians and 23 people from Ukraine and Belarus with helping maintain weapons that the Gaddafi regime used against the rebels during last year's conflict, Xinhua reported.

"The Russian foreign ministry and the embassy in Tripoli, which are closely coordinating with Ukrainian and Belorussian colleagues and lawyers, are working on detention condition improvement of those arrested in Libya and their release as soon as possible," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

He said Moscow has repeatedly asked Libyan authorities to set free the Russians.

The 25 people, all employees of a Libyan company, were captured by rebel troops in August last year. They were released in September after the Russian embassy intervened, but were arrested again days later in order to "verify their possible involvement in mending and modernization of Gaddafi's tanks".