Some 120 prisoners, including people from various nationalities, have escaped from a jail in the Libyan capital Tripoli, security officials say.

Supreme Security Council spokesman Abdel-Monem al-Hurr said that the mass escape took place in the al-Judaida prison in Tripoli on Monday.

It is believed that a policeman in charge gave a set of keys to the prisoners who were in jail for crimes such as murder and rape, he said.

"We don't know why the policeman threw the keys into the prison," al-Hurr said, adding.

"This incident shows how weak the police system is in western Libya where we haven't been able to gauge the loyalties of all the security officials working for the government," said Hurr.

Officials say security forces have succeeded to return about 60 escapees to al-Judaida prison which is the biggest jail in Libya.

Press TV