Thirteen Coptic Christians believed to have been captured by Islamic militants have been freed in Libya.
Witnesses said the gunmen abducted the Copts on Saturday night, separating the Muslims from Christians then handcuffing them. The tribe leader however insisted the people smugglers had simply detained the Christian men and not abducted them.
The head of council elders Muftah Marzuq, reported the Egyptian Copts were free following negotiations took place.
"The Egyptians were held by a group that deals in illegal people smuggling, because of a dispute involving money and transportation to the Harawa region east of Sirte," he said.
The abduction was linked to the Islamic group Ansar al-Sharia. Prior to this incident, seven other Coptic Christians were kidnapped in Sirte after making a fake checkpoint, as the Christian men tried to leave the city.
Last December a Coptic Christian doctor and his wife were abducted and killed. Reports have also stated that the 13-year old daughter of the doctor was also killed following the abduction.
Libya is home to many Egyptian economic migrants and has been their top destination. Though commotion arose since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Egyptian migrants continue to seek employment opportunities in the country.