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Ukrainians fighting for Gaddafi captured in Libya, say rebels

26 August 2011 17:26 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Libyan rebels said on Friday they had captured a group of Ukrainian nationals during a battle for a Tripoli district controlled by forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

Some 200 people were captured during clashes in the Abu Salim district, including several dozen snipers, among whom were 15 Ukrainians, a representative of the opposition Transitional National Council, Yahya Saleh, said.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry put under question media reports that Ukrainian mercenaries were fighting for Gaddafi in Libya, but said it was investigating the information.

In March, the ministry also denied media allegations that more than 20 Ukrainian pilots could have been involved in military operations in support of Gaddafi.

Earlier on Friday, Libyan opposition forces said they had established control of the entire Libyan capital.

Abu Salim remained under control of pro-Gaddafi troops for several days since rebel fighters entered Tripoli and seized Gaddafi’s residence. Rebels believed that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, one of the embattled Libyan leader’s sons, could have been hiding somewhere in Abu Salim.

But Saleh said after Friday clashes that the whereabouts of Gaddafi’s son, as well as Gaddafi himself, still remained unknown.