VALLETTA, Dec 23 - Hijackers claiming to have a grenade took over a Libyan plane today and diverted it to Malta before releasing everyone on board and surrendering to authorities, officials said.
�Final crew members leaving aircraft with hijackers,� Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Twitter.
Minutes later, he added: �Hijackers surrendered, searched and taken in custody�.
Libyan Foreign Minister Taher Siala said the two hijackers were supporters of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi and had requested political asylum in Malta.
Siala, from Libya�s internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers have also said they want to set up a pro-Kadhafi political party.
The plane landed at 11:32 am (1032 GMT) in Malta.
After more than an hour on the tarmac, the door of the Airbus A320 opened and a first group of women and children was seen descending a mobile staircase.
Dozens more passengers were released minutes later following negotiations that Maltese government sources said were led by the head of Malta�s military.
In all, there were 111 passengers, including 28 women and a baby, on board the aircraft, as well as seven crew members. � AFP