Dorian Lynskey - who used the word 'masterpiece' when reviewing Polly's new album - has posted on twitter that journalist Anthony Shadid has been reported missing, with 3 other NY Times journalists, while covering the fighting in Libya. Lynskey writes on twitter that Shahid's reports from Iraq were some of the inspiration for 'Let England Shake'.

The other 3 journalists are Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer; photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle ... story.html

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Wiggins is so superbly unassuming, he looks like he's about to say 'Pop the gold medal in the post, I'm nipping out for some biscuits'

Mark Steel

Good news:

Four New York Times journalists missing in Libya since Tuesday will be released on Friday, according to the paper. The New York Times reported that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son, Seif al-Islam, had told Christiane Amanpour the journalists would be released in an ABC News interview. They were captured by forces loyal to Gaddifi, according to his son.

The New York Times journalists are Anthony Shadid, the Beirut bureau chief; two photographers, Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario, who have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa; and Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandos.

They had entered the rebel-controlled eastern region of Libya without visas via the Egyptian border.

"They entered the country illegally and when the army, when they liberated the city of Ajdabiya from the terrorists and they found her, they arrest her because you know, foreigners in this place," Seif al-Islam said, according to the transcript of the ABC News interview.

"But then they were happy because they found out she is American, not European. And thanks to that, she will be free tomorrow."

He was apparently referring to Addario, but Libyan government officials told the US state department on Thursday evening that all four would be released.

On Wednesday Guardian journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad was released from prison in Libya after being detained for a fortnight by pro-Gaddafi forces.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/ma ... imes-libya