BBC Journalists Beaten, Subject to Mock Executions by Libyan Thugs

Grim, grim news from Libya this morning: members of a BBC news team, pictured below, were detained by Libyan security forces, then beaten, hooded, and subject to mock executions. This "could amount to torture" according to the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay.

Here's the BBC's report:

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's security forces detained and beat up a BBC news team who were trying to reach the strife-torn western city of Zawiya.

Members of the three-man team were beaten with fists, knees and rifles, hooded and subjected to mock executions by Libyan troops and secret police.

The three were detained on Monday and held for 21 hours, but have now flown out of Libya.

The UN Human Rights Commissioner says their treatment may amount to torture.

The detained BBC journalists, in an interview following their release, note that the Arab prisoners were far worse off than they themselves were. BBC cameraman Goktay Koraltan--on the left above--said in that interview, "I can't describe how bad [sic] was it--most of them [the Arab rebels] were hooded and handcuffed really tightly, all swollen hands, broken ribs. They were in agony, screaming."

Watch the chilling testimony of Koraltan and BBC reporter Feras Killani below: