Gul helps free guardian journalist in Libya

After recently playing a role in the release of two German journalists in Iran at the request of his German counterpart Christian Wulff, President Abdullah Gul now has helped obtain the release of a correspondent for Britain's The Guardian after he was arrested in Libya. The journalist was set free Wednesday. The newspaper assigned its Iraqi correspondent Ghait Abdulahad to cover developments in Libya, but Abdulahad was arrested in that country. Gul told the Foreign Ministry to contact Libyan authorities after The Guardian asked him to mediate, said the Anatolia news agency. A senior Turkish diplomat confirmed that London and the British newspaper called on Gul after Abdulahad's arrest. Turkey has been representing British interests in Libya since democratic protests turned into a violent conflict about a month ago. Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian's managing editor, thanked Gul for his help.