Lawyer released by Libya 'sounded good'

AP

Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor, third from left, prepares to board a plane to Rotterdam after disembarking from Tripoli at Rome's Ciampino military airport after being released from Libya.

Sydney - An Australian lawyer released from three weeks of detention in Libya “sounded really good” despite her experience, her mother said on Tuesday.

Melinda Taylor was among a four-person team from the International Criminal Court who were detained on June 7 in Libya after visiting a son of former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in the town of Zintan, southwest of Tripoli.

Her mother Janelle Taylor said in her first call with her daughter since her release, the international lawyer did not go into the details of her detention but was excited to be heading back to her family.

“She sounded good, she sounded really good, really excited to be going home,” Janelle Taylor told ABC Radio. “She just said 'I love you mum and dad. I'm on my way home'.”

Mrs Taylor said she would be talking to her daughter again later in the day, once she arrived back at her home in the Netherlands and was reunited with her husband Geoff Roberts and their young daughter, Yasmina.

The four ICC staff had been held in Zintan, southwest of Tripoli, after travelling there to help prepare Seif al-Islam's defence.

Taylor was accused of carrying a pen camera and attempting to give Seif al-Islam, 40, a coded letter from his former right-hand man, Mohammed Ismail, who is wanted by the Libyan authorities.

Her mother said the experience in Libya was unlikely to make her daughter quit her role.

“I spoke to her husband about that, he said, 'Oh no, it's only going to make her more determined',” Janelle Taylor said.

Taylor's parents praised the work of Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, who rang them in the early hours of Tuesday to tell them of their daughter's release.

“We also felt free to be quite honest, it was a great relief,” Mrs Taylor said.

Australia has thanked Libyan authorities for helping to secure the release of Taylor and her three ICC colleagues.

“This is the news we've been hoping for - a swift end to Melinda Taylor's detention and the resolution of what has been a protracted diplomatic negotiation,” Carr said earlier.

Taylor left Libya on an Italian military aircraft bound for Rome, and then flew on to the Netherlands. - Sapa-AFP