American photojournalist Michael Christopher Brown, who was injured in the mortar attack in Misurata which killed two journalists, was expected in Malta for treatment early this morning, a government official confirmed.
Injured British photojournalist Guy Martin was also meant to reach Malta. Although a request was made to the government to transport him to Malta, reports emerged that he was unfit to travel because of his injuries.
The two photographers were injured on Wednesday in the same attack that killed two journalists – British Tim Hetherington, 40, and American Chris Hondros, 41.
Mr Brown, who was working in Libya for Corbis visual media agency, is reported to have suffered shrapnel wounds to his left shoulder from a rocket-propelled grenade.
He was meant to arrive by boat at Grand Harbour at around 2 a.m. and taken to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment.
Mr Martin, a photographer working with Panos Pictures agency, was reported to have suffered bowel injury and trauma to his pelvis, causing serious blood loss.
Seven rebel fighters and a Ukrainian doctor were also reported killed and 120 people were wounded in the same attack.
Meanwhile, the bodies of Mr Hondros, a photographer for Getty Images, and Mr Hetherington, an Oscar-nominated film director and war photographer, were yesterday flown to their respective countries after being brought to Malta on Friday night.
Their bodies were embalmed at Mater Dei Hospital before being released.
Malta is still a hub of activity sparked by the conflict raging in neighbouring Libya.
The Setubal Express, a Maltese-registered ship, intercepted outside Libyan waters due to irregularities in the cargo record book on April 14, was allowed to return to Malta yesterday after more than a week at sea.
The government, however, remained in the dark about the alleged irregularities on board, and was still awaiting a reply from the UN Sanctions Committee, a spokesman said yesterday.
When it was given clearance before leaving Malta, the Setubal Express was carrying vehicles, clothing, furniture, spare parts, cement, foodstuffs and raw materials.
The cargo had aroused suspicion that the vehicles on board could be used by pro-Gaddafi forces, a British Defence Ministry spokesman had said.
Questions sent to Nato and the British Defence Ministry yesterday remained unanswered.
The Setubal Express, owned by the Malta Motorways of the Sea, is believed to have now suspended its services to Libya.
During the day, Italian tug boat Asso Ventidue, which had been held captive with its 11-man crew by the pro-Gaddafi forces for a month, was released and yesterday initially destined for Malta.
However, as the day progressed the tugboat changed plans and headed directly for Italy, a government spokesman said.