Al-Alam beamed suspiciously instantaneous accounts of the contretemps to viewers in Iraq and elsewhere.

ECONOMIST: The Iranians are blowing hot and cold in Iraq

Al-Alam is supposed to head the Libyan delegation in London for the Olympic games, which begin next week.

CNN: Libya's Olympic chief kidnapped

Six pictures have been loaned by the Tate to Sultan Qaboos' Al-Alam palace in the Omani capital of Muscat.

BBC: Queen tries hand at art curating on state visit to Oman

Ahmad Nabil al-Alam was taken in central Tripoli on Sunday, the organization said.

CNN: Libya's Olympic chief kidnapped