Many of the Egyptian drivers abducted by a Libyan armed group pressing for the release of Libyans detained in Egypt have been released.

According to the security source which disclosed this, the armed men began abducting the Egyptian drivers on Thursday, and since then more than 80 of them had been snatched.

Meanwhile, the drivers who were held by armed men in Ajdabiya (in eastern Libya) were said to have been released by their captors, some headed home in neighbouring Egypt, while others continued on to destinations inside Libya

Moreover, Egypt's envoy to Tripoli, Mohamed Abu Bakr, is said to have confirmed the release of the men, adding they had been "detained" but "not abducted" and were all treated well.

However, it would be recalled that Egypt reported on Saturday that it was holding intense talks with Libyan authorities to secure the release of more than 20 Egyptian drivers after a Cairo daily reported 50 had been abducted.