"We know some British personnel landed on Libyan soil. It created some confusion in the beginning because we didn't know whether they were with us or against us. They're being taken care of," the spokesman told AFP.

He confirmed they included British military personnel and a diplomat, but was unable to say when they arrived, when they were picked up, where they were being held or indeed whether they had already been released.

"They were detained because we did not know the nature (of their mission). They're safe and well," he added.

Libya's opposition leadership based in the second city of Benghazi was scheduled to hold a news conference at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT).