A Maltese man abducted in Libya last week is no closer to being released, but the government said yesterday that it “appears (he) is still alive”.

The government said it was intensifying its diplomatic and political efforts to secure Martin Galea’s release as it carried out sensitive parallel negotiations with the rebels who kidnapped him; however, information related to his well-being could not be independently verified.

Sources told this newspaper that the release of Mr Galea, who was abducted on July 17, might become even more complicated as fighting in Libya intensifies.

“It seems that the militia that abducted Mr Galea is completely unknown. It is not one of the established militias and this makes negotiations even more difficult,” the sources said.

“The government is conducting negotiations with Mr Galea’s kidnappers through another militia, which is much better known and organised,” they added.

At the same time, a private security company with close connections to militia is also trying to secure the 42-year-old’s release.

A retired Armed Forces of Malta captain, Mr Galea was held by the militia when the car he was travelling in was stopped at a road block on his way to work at an oil company in the desert outside Tripoli.

Sources said Mr Galea was arrested and taken to an unknown location when the militia rebels became suspicious after discovering he was carrying a military dog tag and binoculars.

His family raised the alarm with the Maltese authorities and the company he works for – Agesco – a few hours after they lost contact with him.

However, direct negotiations with the rebels on his release could not start immediately as the Maltese embassy in Tripoli happened to be closed at the time of the kidnapping.

“Diplomatic efforts on the ground started a bit late as Malta’s ambassador to Libya was caught in Malta and could not fly immediately to Tripoli due to the closure of the airport,” the sources said.

Arrangements were made last Sunday to enable the ambassador to reach Tripoli through Tunisia, while the government also dispatched another experienced diplomat to Libya to assist in the negotiations.

The sources said Maltese diplomats were working relentlessly to secure Mr Galea’s release.

News of the abduction of a Maltese citizen in Libya was revealed on Friday by Times of Malta.

Hours later, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made a declaration in Parliament confirming the reports and said the government did not want to make any comment due to the sensitivity of the ongoing negotiations.

Dr Muscat said silence was in the best interest of the abducted Maltese citizen and to secure his early release.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil also backed the government’s efforts to secure Mr Galea’s release but asked for more clarity over the government’s actions, particularly in view of Foreign Minister George Vella’s declaration just before the abduction that the situation in Libya was not as dramatic as it appeared and that there was no need for evacuation.

Dr Busuttil yesterday reiterated his call for information about Mr Galea, tweeting that “Joseph Muscat should keep the country informed”.