Tripoli, Libya: Libya's deputy intelligence chief has been freed a day after being abducted at the airport in Tripoli, military sources have told the BBC.
Mustafa Nuh had reportedly been held by gunmen from the western town of Zintan.
Meanwhile, Tripoli is observing a three-day strike after militias from Misrata city opened fire on demonstrators, killing more than 40 people on Friday and Saturday.
The Misrata militia have been ordered to leave Tripoli within three days.
Two years after its revolution, Libya still lacks a stable government.
The rival militias from across the country that helped topple Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 have so far refused to disarm.
They seize senior officials to gain political leverage.
Mr Nuh was bundled into a car after arriving at Tripoli international airport on Sunday, but military sources told the BBC he was released on Monday morning.
He was kidnapped with former rebel commander Alaa al-Hafs, who managed to escape, reports the BBC's Rana Jawad from Tripoli.
Mr Hafs told the BBC Mr Nuh had been taken captive by men from Zintan.
"I know that he was beaten but also that he's OK," Mr Hafs added.
Mr Nuh was freed following the intervention of the Shura Council of Zintan, made up of local elders, he said.
Zintan has the most powerful brigades in Tripoli and some of them are loosely attached to the defence ministry, our correspondent says.
At least 43 people were killed on Friday and Saturday when Misrata gunmen opened fire on protesters who were demanding they leave Tripoli.
In a joint statement on Sunday, Misrata's local council and the council of elders said all militia groups from the city - without exception - must pull out of Tripoli within 72 hours.
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Shortly afterwards, Khalil al-Ruwaiti, who heads a unit under the Misrata Shield brigade, confirmed to the BBC that his fighters would leave the capital.
The brigade is not part of the militias which clashed with the protesters on Friday.
Emotions have been running high in Tripoli since the clashes, and Misrata's statement will be seen as a positive development, our correspondent says.
Most shops and schools are closed and many roadblocks have been erected by local residents and various armed groups.
-BBC
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