THE father of two British women who were raped by armed militants in Libya has said that both women were subject to a "horrible act".

The man, who was travelling with his daughters as part of a humanitarian convoy destined for the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, said they were attacked in front of him.

The family was "in a very bad psychological state".

The two women, said to be of Pakistani origin, were with the Gaza convoy when it was blocked from leaving Libya and entering Egypt. The three decided to return to Benghazi, accompanied by two more Britons, with the aim of getting a flight home.

But when they arrived in Libya's second city they were abducted and assaulted by five unidentified men.