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Libyan authorities have apologised after video footage emerged showing graves of British servicemen being vandalised by armed men in Benghazi. According to reports, the militants liberated last year from Colonel Gaddafi with help from British forces, attacked more than 150 graves. A crucifix was also attacked at the British war grave cemetery in Benghazi.

The Libyan graves belong to British serviceman killed during the Second World War in the north African area. Headstones at the Benghazi war cemetery were pulled down, with crucifixes destroyed by vandals. Some attackers, who were carrying guns and wearing combat fatigues, posted the footage on the web.

The Foreign Office says it believes the attack was carried out by a group of Salafist jihadists, a hardline branch of Islam, because Muslim graves were also desecrated. Its spokesman said officials from the Embassy in Tripoli immediately visited the sites and raised the issue with the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Benghazi Chief of Police.

The Ambassador also voiced concerns with the Deputy Foreign Minister, the Minister of Interior and the offices of The National Transitional Council (NTC) Chairman Abdul Jalil and Prime Minister al-Kib. Earlier it was believed that the attack, which is understood to have taken place last week, was in revenge for US soldiers accidentally burning copies of the Koran in Afghanistan.

The NTChas issued an offical statement, apologising to all Christians and instructed police to make regular patrols to ensure no further attacks occur.

Lybian Foreign Office Minister says "Libyan Authorities are shocked, These actions are the personal actions of specific individuals and do not reflect the views of the National Transitional Council and are nothing to do with the Islamic Faith. We are Muslims, we know that our God created us from the earth and we will go back to the earth, so all souls belong to God. Once again, we hope that the Christian community worldwide can accept our apology for what has happened", the statement read.

Libya is the resting place for many Commonwealth soldiers who died
during intense campaigns against Rommel's German forces, including the
famous Rats of Tobruk.

Although freed from authoritarian control with the aid of Nato last year, the country is still struggling to adapt to democracy.