Turkey negotiates release of New York Times journalist in Libya

Four journalists from The New York Times who were captured during fighting in Libya were released yesterday following negotiations by Turkey with Libyan authorities, adding to Turkey's emergence as a protector of US and other countries' diplomatic interests in the war-torn country. The four were released into the custody of Turkish diplomats. "Four journalists from The New York are currently in our embassy in Libya," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters. "We will do whatever is necessary to return them to their countries within a few hours." Namik Tan, Turkey's ambassador in Washington, said on Twitter that the journalists – Anthony Shadid, Tyler Hicks, Lynsey Addario and Stephen Farrell – were released following negotiations between Turkey and Libyan authorities and are expected to be transferred to US officials.