On Saturday the Geneva-based Human Rights Solidarity group, which employs a number of Libyan exiles, told Reuters a team of “eight special forces personnel” had been seized by rebels.

Contacted by Reuters again on Sunday, the rights group said the soldiers were apprehended in a location 10 km (6.25 miles) from Benina airport which serves Benghazi.

An activist with the group, Jiumma Elomami, said “they are under arrest but we have information that the British authorities are now negotiating with the new opposition council to negotiate their release.”