A British SAS unit has been released after being captured by rebels in eastern Libya.
Up to six SAS solders were detained by rebels near Benghazi after flying into the area by helicopter on Friday.
It is understood they were escorting British diplomats trying to establish contact with opponents of Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi.
An opposition spokesman in Benghazi has told reporters that rebels refused to talk to the British delegation because of the way they entered the country.
The team is said to have entered without prior arrangement in the dead of night, carrying guns, explosives, and passports of multiple nationalities.
In an embarrassment to the UK, Libyan state television has broadcast what is believed to be a phone conversation between the British ambassador to Libya, Richard Northern, and an opposition spokesman.
Mr Northern is heard explaining the soldiers' presence to a spokesman for Libyan former justice minister Mostafa Abdel Jalil - now part of the opposition National Transitional Council - and saying there has been a misunderstanding.
"We have been planning to send some officials to stay in Benghazi to liaise with you, with the National Council, but also to keep an eye on the humanitarian situation," he said.
"We sent today ahead of those officials who are coming ... a small group just to find if there was a hotel, if everything was working and there was somewhere they could stay and work when we get our group organised."
Mr Northern says the group was picked up by local security concerned about their presence and who they were.
The spokesman for Mr Jalil replies: "They made a big mistake with coming with helicopter I think in an open area."
"The people, they note that there was somebody, some people [were] coming down," he said.
Mr Northern replies: "Oh, I'm not surprised. That is alarming."
The spokesman for Mr Jalil then says: "They talked to them and there is investigation now going on."
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed the SAS soldiers have been released and have returned to HMS Cumberland.
But foreign secretary William Hague would not be drawn on what the team was doing in Benghazi in the first place.
"There is a small British diplomatic team in Benghazi. I can confirm that. We are in contact with them," he said.
"It is inappropriate to comment further on that at the moment but I can of course say that we are in touch with people across Libya.
"I personally am in touch not only continuing in touch with the Libyan foreign minister in the Gaddafi regime to continue to convey messages to him but also with figures in the opposition."
The incident is the first known British diplomatic deployment to try to built political contacts with the opposition and better understand what is going on but many rebels say they do not want the West's intervention.
With military support for the moment ruled out, Britain and other countries will have to reassess the way they reach out to opposition groups and the risks to those involved.
Meanwhile, clashes between Libyan rebels and pro-Gadaffi forces are continuing, with heavy fighting reported in the towns of Zawiya, Misrata and Ras Lanuf.