U.S. journalist held in Libya calls parents, says she's OK

04:25 PM

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By Oren Dorell, USA TODAY

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Clare Gillis, one of four journalists taken into custody by Libya troops two weeks ago, today called her parents for the first time, telling them she was in good health in a women's jail in Tripoli. She has reported extensively about the civil war for TheAtlantic.com and USA TODAY.

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Photo courtesy Gillis family

More than two weeks after being detained by pro-government forces in Libya, American journalist Clare Gillis was heard from for the first time today, when she called her parents and told them she is in good health and being held in a civilian women's jail in Tripoli.

Gillis was reporting in Libya for The Atlantic magazine, USA TODAY and other publications.

"We are very relieved to hear Clare was able to reach her parents and now we're looking forward to her speedy release," said USA TODAY Editor John Hillkirk.

Her parents were happy to hear she is safe and pressed for her release as well.

"We were so relieved to hear from our daughter after having heard nothing for 16 days," her father, Robert Gillis, told The Atlantic. "We still urgently appeal to the Libyan government to let her come home."

Gillis, 34, was taken into custody April 5 while covering fighting between Libyan rebels and pro-government forces near Brega in eastern Libya. With her was another American, James Foley, a correspondent for Globalpost online international news agency, and Manu Brabo, a Spanish freelance photographer.

The journalists were split up earlier this week when Gillis was moved to the women's prison, The Atlantic reports. She described the prison uniforms as "pink pajamas" and said most of her fellow inmates spoke only Arabic.

Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded the immediate release of U.S. citizens "unjustly detained" in Libya, including Gillis and Foley, according to the Associated Press.

See photos of: Libya

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