Times Journalists to Be Released from Libya

Two are from Westport.

Four New York Times journalists, including two from Westport, will be released from Libya today.

The release comes as an immediate cease-fire was declared.

Forces aligned with Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi on Tuesday captured Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario, Westport photographers who have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa; Anthony Shadid, the Beirut bureau chief and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting; and Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandos.

All four will be released on Friday, the New York Times reports, citing Christiane Amanpour and her ABC News interview.

Saif el-Qaddafi told Amanpour the journalists would be released because they are American, not European.

“You know, they entered country illegally and when the army, when they liberated the city of Ajdabiyah from the terrorists and they found her there and they arrest her because you know foreigners in this place. But then they were happy because they found out she is American, not European. And thanks to that she will be free tomorrow,” he said.

The woman el-Qaddafi was referring to seems to be Addario, the New York Times reports.

Addario is a 1991 graduate of Staples High School. Tyler is a 1988 Staples High School graduate.

Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said Friday's decision for a ceasefire and stopping military operations comes after the U.N. voted to authorized a no-fly zone and "all necessary measures" to protect the Libyan people, including airstrikes.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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