Libyan PM briefly held by gunmen angry at U.S. al Qaeda capture

The chaotic end to a short but tense episode in post-revolutionary Libya.

Prime Minister Ali Zeidan returned to his office on Thursday after he was seized and held for several hours by former rebel fighters.

Back with his cabinet, Zeidan called for calm following his release.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN PRIME MINISTER ALI ZEIDAN, SAYING:

"I hope that we deal with this situation with wisdom, removed from any tensions and escalation. There is no doubt that the situation does need to be dealt with."

Details around Zeidan's kidnapping and release are not entirely clear.

Earlier, a militia called the Operations Room of Libya's Revolutionaries told Reuters it "arrested" Zeidan because it was angry over Libya's apparent involvement in the capture of a Libyan al Qaeda suspect in Tripoli by U.S. special forces over the weekend.

But the group later denied any involvement in his kidnapping.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OPERATIONS ROOM OF LIBYA'S REVOLUTIONA