An oil tanker seized by U.S. forces after it loaded crude oil at a Libya port held by anti-government rebels in now in Tripoli.

U.S. special forces boarded the tanker, called the Morning Glory, a week ago off Cyprus, just days after it left a port controlled by rebels who were demanding more autonomy in Libya.

Former anti-Gaddafi rebels often use force or control of oil facilities to make demands on the central government.

Libyan forces arrested 21 crew members and three rebels aboard the Morning Glory as it was moored near the Tripoli coast.

This army officer explains.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARMY OFFICER. SALEM MOHAMED AL-SOUREF, SAYING:

"We took over the tanker from US forces in international waters today at approximately 1030 am... Now all the individuals arrested will be turned over to the responsible authorities."

Libyan soldiers took the crew away on a small boat before they were handed over to authorities.

The tanker, which had previ