kundi la Majeshi Libya Lazingira uwanja wa taifa wa nchi hiyo na kulazimisha zikatulie katika viwanja vya Jeshi hilo la Libya.

A Libyan armed brigade has surrounded Tripoli's international airport, forcing flights to be diverted to the capital's military airport, a security official revealed.

The official said on Monday that the group, called al-Awfea Brigade, from the town of Tarhouna, 80km southeast of Tripoli, demanded the release of one of their leaders who they said had disappeared two nights ago.

"The situation in the airport is very tense and tanks are surrounding the buildings. No one is allowed into the building," the official, who declined to be named, said.

Al Jazeera's correspondent Omar al-Saleh in Benghazi that the group "have heavy weapons and they are not allowing flights to land or take off. All flights have been diverted".

The ruling National Transitional Council spokesman Mohammed al-Harizy said the Awfea head, Colonel Abu Oegeila al-Hebeishi was kidnapped by unknown armed rebels while travelling between Tarhouna and Tripoli late last night

Aljazeera English