The Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has criticized Libyan security authorities for apprehending 20 journalists from the news agency Libya Press, sources said.
Security raided the Libya press office last Friday, and arrested 10 of those journalists without justification, according to ANHRI.
Authorities also prevented Thursday edition's of Oea, a Libyan newspaper issued by al-Ghad Media Services, from going to the presses. The paper was founded by Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, the son of Libyan President Muammar al-Gaddafi.
Oea is regarded as a reformist publication who frequently criticizes the Libyan government and clashes with conservative policy-makers.
ANHRI officials believe the arrests were prompted by a row between Libya's president and his son.
“The Libyan authorities released the jailed journalists quickly, but this is a very dangerous matter, and we can’t stay silent about it," one network official said. "The majority of the repressive governments in the Arab world have been accustomed to such practices to intimidate journalists and make them more careful in handling the important issues and criticizing the governments.”
Libya state news on Tuesday announced President al-Gaddafi personally ordered the release of the jailed journalists.
