Zeidan was freed around 11:30 a.m. and taken back to Corinthia Hotel where he resided in downtown Tripoli, security source told Xinhua.

　　Zeidan was held at the Interior Ministry's anti-crime department before being released, the source said, adding that he was in "good health and being treated well."

　　Up to 150 armed men arrived at the Corinthia Hotel in pick-up trucks around 3:00 a.m. and took away Zeidan and his two guards.

　　A group of rebels, believed to be hired by the government to maintain security in Tripoli, said in a statement that Zeidan was "lawfully" arrested for alleged bribery. However, Justice Minister Salah Marghani denied issuing any "assignment" to arrest Zeidan.

　　The seizure came amid accusations that Zeidan had previous acknowledge of the U.S. raid in Tripoli to capture alleged al- Qaida suspect Abu Anas Al-Libi on Oct. 5. The U.S. move stirred anger among Libya's powerful Islamic militant groups, while several groups accused Zeidan as an accomplice of the U.S. operation.

　　Libyan PM taken to unknown destination by armed group: gov' t

　　TRIPOLI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan of transitional government on Thursday was taken to an unknown location by armed men believed to be former rebels, the government said on its website on Thursday.

　　The armed group stormed Corinthia Hotel in downtown Tripoli around 3:00 a.m. and took Zeidan away, local sources told Xinhua.

　　A rebel group said in a statement that Zeidan was "lawfully" arrested for alleged bribery.

　　However, Libyan Justice Minister Salah Marghani denied issuing any "assignment" to arrest Zeidan.

　　The seizure came amid accusations that Zeidan had previous acknowledge of the U.S. raid in Tripoli to capture alleged al- Qaida suspect Abu Anas Al-Libi on Oct. 5.