Updated 5pm

Martin Galea, the Maltese oil worker abducted in Libya last week is alive according to reports received by the government, which it said, however, could not be independently verified.

In a statement this afternoon the government said it intensified contacts at political, diplomatic and other levels in Libya for Mr Galea to be brought back to Malta safely.

Mr Galea was abducted by western Libyan rebel militias on July 17 on his way to work at a site managed by his employer, Arab Geophysical Exploration Services Company, in the outskirts of Tripoli.

The abduction was revealed by Times of Malta yesterday afternoon.

The government appealed for prudence at such a delicate time.

Earlier today, Foreign Minister George Vella said on RTK that while the government was making all attempts to try to Mr Galea back to Malta safe and sound, any discussion or debate on him can do more harm than good.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday told Parliament the government was informed about the case last Sunday.

Sources in Libya told Times of Malta that a search for Mr Galea, who lives in Bidnija, has been on since the end of last week but no clues were given about his whereabouts and his fate was unknown.

According to the sources, Mr Galea, 42, was held by rebels during a road block when he was in a car driven by a Libyan national.

Asked whether he would consider going up to Libya in the coming days, Dr Vella said that although he did not exclude anything and he would go to Libya if need be, there were no plans for such a visit.