In These New Times

Voltairenet

29th August, 2011

Monday, 29 August 2011, 4 pm GMT – All the members of the Voltaire Network team arrived today at the port of Valletta, Malta.

Thierry Meyssan, Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Mathieu Ozanon and Julien Teil are safe. British journalist Lizzie Phelan of Press TV, who was also in danger, was with them as was the team of Telesur. Walter E. Fauntroy, former United States congressman and former assistant to Martin Luther King also arrived safely.

The boat they boarded to leave Libya had room for only 12 people. Eventually 52 refugees could be accommodated, in addition to the crew. It took them 36 hours to reach Malta in very rough seas.

Before departure, the passenger list had been the object of intense negotiations and was finally approved by the various authorities who now control Tripoli. Until the last moment, the journalists of Voltaire Networkand their friends were worried they would be unable to embark. At the end, one person, whose name we don’t know, was arrested on the boat by the rebels.

These 52 people were able to escape and save their lives. They have left many friends behind.

On arrival in Malta, Thierry Meyssan thanked all those who have lent their support: “Thank you all. Your mobilization was tremendous. We owe you our lives. ”