A group of foreign journalists held by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have been abruptly freed.

The approximately 35 journalists were freed on Thursday, after being detained for about four days inside of the Rixos hotel in Tripoli.

The circumstances of the release were not immediately clear. However, their release took place shortly after representative of the International Red Cross arrived at the hotel, which has been under the control of pro-Gadhafi forces.

CNN correspondent Matthew Chance was among the journalists who were detained under what he described as “terrible, horrible” conditions. He told CNN the situation changed when pro-Gadhafi fighters who controlled the hotel realized the Libyan leader's “regime was over.”

The journalists say they were met outside of the hotel by Red Cross representatives who transported them to another location.

Before they were freed, some journalists had hung banners outside of windows, with the words “TV” and “do not shoot” written on them. They said snipers are near the hotel.

Some also said that water and other basic supplies in the hotel were getting low.