ICC team detained in Libya freed: officials

Zintan, Libya, Monday

Libya has freed four envoys of the International Criminal Court who were detained after visiting the son of slain leader Muammar Gaddafi last month, a brigade commander and an official said.

"The four members (of the ICC team) were released," Ajmi al-Atiri, commander of a brigade holding Seif al-Islam Gaddafi told journalists in Zintan, a hilltop town southwest of Tripoli.

The four, including Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor, have been held in Zintan since June 7 after travelling there to help prepare Seif al-Islam's defence.

Taylor was accused of carrying a pen camera and attempting to give Seif al-Islam a coded letter from his former right-hand man, Mohammed Ismail, who is wanted by the Libyan authorities.

Libya accused the team of "breaching national security."

Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdelaziz said the release was the result of an agreement between his country and the ICC, which committed to continue investigations and keep Libya in the loop of its findings.

He added that the "four ICC envoys will leave Libya later in the day."