The Maltese government issued a statement this afternoon stating that from new information it has received from Libyan contacts, information which could not be verified independently, Captain Galea is alive.

The government said that it has continued to intensify its efforts in this regard.

The Maltese authorities were only informed about the seizure of Martin Galea  three days after his abduction  and have been trying to trace the man and his abductors, but without success so far.

“We’re working on it,” a Maltese official told the Libya Herald. The Maltese authorities are otherwise keeping tight lipped about the presumed kidnapping.

Libyan security sources said they had no information about the abduction.

Foreign Minister George Vella said this morning that while the government was making all attempts to try to get Martin Galea,back to Malta safe and sound, any discussion or debate on him can do more harm than good.

He said when asked about the case on RTK radio that for this reason, he did not wish to discuss this case in public.

The government would make an announcement about Mr Galea only once he was safe and sound.

Meanwhile on Friday, a second group of 24 Maltese and Libyans with Maltese citizenship left Tripoli’s Mitiga airbase on a chartered flight to Malta. On Monday, 40 Maltese left.

The departure is voluntary. The Maltese authorities point out that they are not paying for the Medavia flights and that there is no formal evacuation.

Some 130 Maltese are now said to be left in Libya.