Update 5/19/2011 - The family of missing South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl say they now believe he was killed in the Libyan desert on April 5th by Moammar Gadhafi's forces. Full story

Update 5/18/2011 - Libya released four journalists today: Americans Clare Morgana Gillis and James Foley, along with Spaniard Manuel Varela and Briton Nigel Chandler. There was no word on the fate of photojournalist Anton Hammerl. Full story 

Original post 5/11/2011 - Concern is growing for South African photographer Anton Hammerl, who has been missing in Libya for 37 days. Hammerl is believed to have been captured near Brega on April 5 with Spanish photographer Manu Brabo and two American journalists, James Foley and Clare Gillis.

courtesy Unai Aranzadi

South African photographer Anton Hammerl working on the front line in Brega, Libya before his disappearance. Hammerl has been missing in Libya since Tuesday, April 5th.

The Global Post reported yesterday that an intermediary had been allowed to visit Foley and Gillis in detention in Tripoli. "The intermediary said Gillis and Foley reported that Brabo was also in the same detention facility, but that they did not know the whereabouts of Hammerl," the Post said.

Gabriel Pecot / AP file

Spanish photographer Manuel Varela de Seijas Bravo, who works under the name of Manu Brabo, is seen working in Ben Gardane in Tunisia on March 3.

In a statement released today, Hammerl's wife Penny Sukhraj spoke of the family's concern:

"The Libyans have made good on their promises and allowed intermediate access to James Foley and Clare Gillis, and we rejoice with these families. The two, and Spanish photographer Manu Brabo, have also been allowed calls to family.

"But we are not even sure where Anton is being held. And it is now late in the day – we are terribly distressed around the growing uncertainty of things.

"Why is there still a no-show where Anton is concerned – where is our husband, father, brother and son?

"Why is he being treated differently?

"Why won't they give us or consular officials access to him?"

Andy Rain / EPA

The son of photographer Anton Hammerl, Neo, lights a candle during a vigil for his missing father at St. Bride's Church in central London on May 3. A vigil was held on World Press Freedom Day to mark Hammerl's 29th day in captivity in Libya.

On Saturday, South African photographer Jodi Bieber made an emotional appeal for help in locating Hammerl. Speaking as she accepted the award for World Press Photo of the year, Bieber called on the wider photojournalism community to act for his release. "Let's help our community stay alive," she implored.

Related links:

Free photographer Anton Hammerl Facebook page.
Free Manu Brabo from Libya Facebook page.
Help Free James Foley and Clare Gillis Facebook page.
Images by Manu Brabo on PhotoBlog.