British Special Forces soldiers SAS would have been captured by the rebel forces in Libya.

The paper claims a unit was involved in a secret mission to put British diplomats in touch with rebels trying to topple Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. It says eight SAS men, in plain clothes but armed, were captured as they escorted the diplomat in eastern Libya. In a statement, the British Ministry of Defense said: "We do not comment on the special forces."

The paper claims the SAS soldiers were taken to Benghazi, the rebel stronghold, where they are being interrogated.

Regarding the SAS seizure claims, Geneva-based Human Rights Solidarity group said it was aware that a team of special forces had been seized by Libyan rebels but it did not know which country they were from.

Separately, a group of Dutch special forces was apparently captured by Col Gaddafi's forces in western Libya while trying to assist Dutch nationals to evacuate from the country.

Earlier, the MoD had confirmed Scottish troops were on standby to assist with humanitarian and evacuation operations in Libya. The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, is on a routine deployment notice of 24 hours at an RAF base in Wiltshire. But they have not been earmarked for a combat role.