The
paper claims a unit was involved in a secret mission to
put British diplomats in touch with rebels trying to topple
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. It says eight SAS men, in plain
clothes but armed, were captured as they escorted the diplomat
in eastern Libya. In a statement, the British Ministry of
Defense said: "We do not comment on the special forces."
The paper claims the SAS soldiers were taken to Benghazi,
the rebel stronghold, where they are being interrogated.
Regarding the SAS seizure claims, Geneva-based Human Rights
Solidarity group said it was aware that a team of special
forces had been seized by Libyan rebels but it did not know
which country they were from.
Separately,
a group of Dutch special forces was apparently captured
by Col Gaddafi's forces in western Libya while trying to
assist Dutch nationals to evacuate from the country.
Earlier,
the MoD had confirmed Scottish troops were on standby to
assist with humanitarian and evacuation operations in Libya.
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of
Scotland, is on a routine deployment notice of 24 hours
at an RAF base in Wiltshire. But they have not been earmarked
for a combat role.
|
