Three Dutch soldiers have been taken hostage by an armed unit of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi after a failed evacuation, a Dutch newspaper reported Thursday.

The three soldiers were captured Sunday after they traveled by helicopter from the Dutch navy ship Tromp to the city of Sirte to pick up two evacuees, including a Dutchman, the De Telegraaf said.

The two evacuees had been handed to the Dutch embassy in the capital city of Tripoli after the navy ship and The Hague launched diplomatic contacts with the Libyan government. The evacuees have since left Libya.

Protesters in Libya have demanded that Gaddafi quit the presidency after 42 years in power.