WASHINGTON — Four New York Times journalists who had been held by Libya have been released.

A spokesman for the Turkish embassy in Washington, Rauf Denktas, says the journalists were handed over to the Turkish ambassador in Tripoli and were expected to cross the border to Tunisia today.

The New York Times was also reporting the release on its Website.

Libyan authorities say the journalists were captured last week by forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi in Ajdabiya during fighting in the eastern part of the country. The New York Times reported that the four had entered the rebel-controlled area from Egypt without visas, as many Western journalists have.

The journalists are reporter Anthony Shadid, photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario, and a reporter and videographer, Stephen Farrell. In 2009, Farrell was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan and was rescued by British commandos.