(MENAFN- Arab News) Tripoli: three libyans who took control of a tanker illegally loaded with oil have been freed under a deal with rebels blockading terminals the official news agency lana reported tuesday

'the prosecutor general has decided on the release of the three accused who forced the captain and the crew of the tanker to enter al-sidra port and to steal libyan oil" it said

Last month the 'morning glory" which was originally a north korean-flagged ship evaded the libyan navy off al-sidra — controlled by rebels seeking autonomy from tripoli — after reportedly being loaded with some 234000 barrels of crude

On march 17 the us navy intercepted and boarded the tanker in the eastern mediterranean and escorted it back to libya

The three libyans and 21-member crew of various other nationalities on the egyptian-owned vessel were handed over to police

There was no immediate word on the fate of the crew but they were also expected to go free

The release of the libyans stirred protests from lawyers and magistrates who demonstrated outside the prosecutor general's office tuesday against alleged political interference in the case.