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Dad Appeals For GlobalPost Journalist's Release From Libya

ROCHESTER, N.H. (CBS/AP) - The father of a freelance correspondent who's missing in Libya is appealing for his son's release.

John Foley says in a statement that Sunday marks the 13th night that his son, James Foley, has been a prisoner of the Libyan government. The statement appeals to Libya and to Col. Muammar Gaddafi to release Foley.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports.

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"It's been extremely difficult. We've had no phone calls, and no foreign journalists have been allowed to interview them. We go from periods of sadness to real fear that he's not physically or mentally well, and obviously we're always concerned about his treatment. And we're also concerned about the three other journalists, one of whom is a woman," said the father.

The 37-year-old Foley of Rochester, N.H., a freelance correspondent who was covering the conflict in Libya for the Boston-based GlobalPost, was taken prisoner by forces loyal to Gaddafi on April 5.

See: Free Foley website

GlobalPost reports that Libyan authorities have not yet confirmed the whereabouts of four Western journalists, including Foley, who were captured earlier this month while reporting on the outskirts of Brega, a key oil town where fighting has been continuous.

John Foley said the U.S. State Department has been talking with the government of Turkey as a go-between to try an negotiate his son's release.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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