American who joined Libyan rebels returning to US

An American writer now says he went to Libya to participate in the uprising against dictator Moammar Gadhafi and was on a reconnaissance mission when he was captured.

Matthew VanDyke was met by dozens of friends and relatives and members of the media when he arrived at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Saturday evening.

Earlier this year, the 32-year-old VanDyke was working on a book and film bout a motorcycle trip across the Middle East and southeast Asia when he decided to witness the uprising in Libya.

He disappeared during a day trip to Brega in March and wasn't heard from until he was freed from the infamous Abu Salim prison in Tripoli in August. After he was freed, VanDyke said he'd remain inLibya until Gadhafi fell from power and he later joined rebel fighters.

Gadhafi was captured and killed last month.