The Libyan government says it has retaken control of Tripoli's international airport after militiamen from a central region stormed the runway to protest the disappearance of their leader.

Officials said pro-government militias initially responded to the airport seizure, disarming some of the assailants and forcing others to flee before handing control of the site to state security forces last night.

Yesterday, dozens of gunmen from the Libyan town of Tarhouna had taken over the airport driving armored vehicles onto the tarmac, surrounding foreign airliners to prevent them from departing and forcing passengers to leave the planes. All flights at the airport were suspended.