TONY EASTLEY: The International Criminal Court is confident Australian lawyer Melinda Taylor will soon have contact with her family for the first time since she was detained in Libya.

The ICC has offered a statement of regret after meetings in The Hague between Libyan authorities and the court's president.

Over the weekend the Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr described the talks as constructive.

With more, here's Michael Vincent.

MICHAEL VINCENT: The Libyan attorney-general has left The Hague and is now heading back to Tripoli to deliver the statement of regret to the government. The ICC is hoping that is enough to secure Melinda Taylor and her colleague's release.

ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah:

FADI EL ABDALLAH: The agreement was to have it as speedy as possible to allow really this speedy reunification with the families. But we could not at this moment enter into more details about the timeline for that because there is some necessary actions to be taken in Libya.

MICHAEL VINCENT: It's not clear what those actions are but any release will take some time.

Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr:

BOB CARR: The delegation from The Hague is returning to Libya and will probably take some time to negotiate, through the fragile and complex political system in the country, the outcome we will want.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Melinda Taylor has not had contact with her family since she was detained in Zintan two and a half weeks ago. Bob Carr says he's continuing to pressure the Libyans for at least a phone call.

BOB CARR: We are asking for this on at least a daily basis, sometimes twice a day. I think it's fair to say that the deputy foreign minister in Libya is somewhat embarrassed that they have not been able to deliver.

Disturbingly, this points to clouded lines of communication in the country. I don't want to say too much about it, I think our response has got to be muted during a delicate time.

But we do hope that the central government, armed with a statement that they sought, that they're happy with, from their talks with the ICC, will be able to make this stick.

MICHAEL VINCENT: But the ICC deal hasn't been the focus of the Libyan public's attention. Over the weekend Tunisia extradited the former Gaddafi regime prime minister back to Tripoli.

Libya's delegate to the ICC is Dr Ahmed El Gehani.

AHMED EL GEHANI: Til now there is no reaction from the Libyan side on this regret from the ICC.

MICHAEL VINCENT: And despite being a former minister in the transitional government, Dr El Gehani says no-one knows sure how long Melinda Taylor and her colleagues will be detained.

AHMED EL GEHANI: Ah yes there is for this issue, there is no rules Michael really, it could be tomorrow and it could be four weeks maybe.

TONY EASTLEY: Libya's delegate to the ICC Dr Ahmed El Gehani speaking to Michael Vincent.

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