Voltaire Network, Thursday, 25 August 25, 2011, 3:25 p.m. - The journalists who had been trapped inside the hotel Rixos in Tripoli since Sunday were evacuated yesterday, 24 August 2011, at 5 p.m, by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The four members of the Voltaire Network team - journalists Thierry Meyssan, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Mathieu Ozanon and Julien Teil - were among them.

However, after their release, the rebels tried to detain Thierry Meyssan, well known for his articles exposing the crimes of NATO. The ICRC intervened to prevent his arrest.

The journalists were taken to another hotel, where they are no longer under ICRC protection.

The journalists have thus far been unable to reach the ship chartered by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is supposed to have already docked in Tripoli.

Voltaire Network is extremely concerned about the attitude showed by the NATO-sponsored "rebels" towards its journalists. It is hereby launching an international appeal to the international community urging for the protection of its journalists and for their safe departure from Libya.

Thierry Meyssan is a French national residing in Lebanon. He is registered at the French consulate in Beirut. A journalist for more than twenty-five years, he is a frequent contributor to Arab, Latin American and Russian publications, such as Odnako in Russia and La Jornada in Mexico. He has written several books on international policy issues and has regularly cooperated with television media, such as RT, Telesur or PressTV. He is the president of Voltaire Network, a network of independent press agencies, grouping a dozen publications from around the world.

Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya is a Canadian national. He lives in Ottawa and is currently a Global Research correspondent in Tripoli. An independent journalist, he has published widely in several languages and given interviews to various media, including Russia Today, Press TV, Al Jazeera, Pacifica KPFA, Global Research, China Life Magazine. Several of his works have also been featured by Voltaire Network.

Mathieu Ozanon and Julien Teil are also Voltaire Network contributing authors.

Voltaire Network