Eight SAS soldiers and a UK diplomat were detained by rebels in Libya, with whom the UK servicemen were actually trying to establish contact.

Britain apparently sent a secret mission to support rebels in Libya, which has backfired, reports the Sunday Times.

Many in Libya are concerned that a possible foreign military support might be interpreted by their foe, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, as an anti-Libyan foreign intervention and thus an argument in his favor.

The eight SAS servicemen were escorting a junior UK diplomat through rebel held Libyan territory, when they were captured by rebels and sent to a local military base.

The Foreign Office has neither confirmed nor denied the report.

The group of arrested persons were reportedly also questioned in Benghazi by a leader of the rebellion.

The Sunday Times also reports that opposition officials are trying to hush up the incident so as not to draw the ire of ordinary Libyans.

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