The Libyan Army said Sunday that Khalifa Haftar's forces had released eight civilians who come from the western region.

The spokesman for the Sirte-Jufra Operations Room, Abdelhadi Drah, told reporters that the handing over of the captives took place at 50km checkpoint in western Sirte.

He said four civilians are from Gharyan, three from Misrata, and one from Al-Asaba.

The member of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission from Haftar's forces Emrajea Al-Emami, said the release of the eight civilians will be followed with releasing another group from the eastern region in a couple of days, adding that this step is part of the exchange of prisoners' process by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the Social Committee for Releasing Prisoners.

The 5+5 Joint Military Commission handed two weeks ago 17 prisoners from western Libya, kept in Haftar's prisons, to Misrata Elders Council.