Watchdog Urges Libya to Stop Militia Attacks on Press

International media watchdog Reporters Without Borders called on the Libyan authorities on Tuesday to rein in allied militia it said were responsible for detaining journalists.

The Paris-based group said it was "extremely concerned" about the deteriorating security situation in Libya and the behavior of certain militias towards media personnel.

It called on the government to control the behavior of militias operating under the command of the defense or interior ministries or integrated into other state entities.

Since the 2011 uprising that ousted veteran dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the central government has struggled to tame the former rebel groups that overthrew him.

A journalist with an international news agency was arrested by members of a militia in broad daylight in Libya's second city Benghazi on May 20, Reporters Without Borders said.

A photographer was detained for several hours on May 28 by militiamen nominally under the command of the defense ministry, it added.