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Britons should leave Benghazi immediately, says Foreign Office Britons should leave Benghazi immediately, says Foreign Office
(about 5 hours later)
British nationals have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave the Libyan city of Benghazi immediately in response to a "specific and imminent threat to westerners". British nationals have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave the Libyan city of Benghazi immediately in response to a "specific and imminent threat to westerners". Germany's government issued a similar warning to its citizens on Thursday.
No details were given of the nature of the threat, which is likely to have been issued in response to intelligence information about the security situation in Libya's second city. No details were given by the UK of the nature of the threat, likely to have been issued in response to intelligence information about the security situation. But security sources in Libya said an attack was expected on an oil or gas facility.
In one possible sign of impending trouble, the border crossing to Egypt was closed to all but Egyptians two days ago in an apparent attempt to keep westerners out of eastern Libya. US drones have been deployed amid speculation about a possible attack by jihadists or an attack on them. The warnings follow last week's hostage crisis in Algeria as well as the French intervention in Mali and underlines continuing international concern about the ability of the government in Tripoli to maintain security in the aftermath of the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, which began in Benghazi nearly two years ago.
Benghazi was the scene last September of an attack on the US consulate in which the US ambassador to Libya was killed. Last summer the British ambassador escaped unharmed when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at his car. Tripoli was angered by the announcement. "Nothing justifies this reaction," protested Libya's deputy interior minister, Abdullah Massoud, who expressed "astonishment" at the UK statement.
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that the Libyans had the "willingness but not [the] capacity" to provide security for diplomats in Benghazi. The 11 September 2012 attack was blamed on a jihadi-type group called Ansar al-Sharia. But in a possible sign of impending trouble, the border crossing to Egypt was closed to all but Egyptians two days ago in an apparent attempt to keep westerners out of eastern Libya. US drones have been deployed amid speculation about a possible attack by jihadists or possible action against them.
David Cameron's national security adviser, Kim Darroch, was in the capital, Tripoli, on Wednesday for talks with the prime minister, Ali Zidan, on security collaboration. He also met the first deputy prime minister, Sadiq Abdulkarim. The talks also focused on security and how Britain could help Libya in the field. Benghazi was the scene last September of an assault on the US consulate in which the US ambassador to Libya was killed along with three other Americans. Last summer the British ambassador escaped unharmed when a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at his car.
Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, told a congressional hearing on Wednesday that the Libyans had the "willingness but not [the] capacity" to provide security for diplomats in Benghazi. The attack was blamed on a jihadi-type group called Ansar al-Sharia, which is thought to have links across the Maghreb region.
David Cameron's national security adviser, Kim Darroch, was in Tripoli on Wednesday for talks with the prime minister, Ali Zidan and two other ministers on UK-Libyan security collaboration.
Since last September the Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Benghazi and all areas of Libya with the exception of Tripoli, Zuwara, Az-Zawiya, Al Khums, Zlitan and Misrata, and the coastal towns from Ras Lanuf to the Egyptian border.Since last September the Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Benghazi and all areas of Libya with the exception of Tripoli, Zuwara, Az-Zawiya, Al Khums, Zlitan and Misrata, and the coastal towns from Ras Lanuf to the Egyptian border.
Thursday's statement said: "We are now aware of a specific and imminent threat to westerners in Benghazi, and urge any British nationals who remain there against our advice to leave immediately. We have updated our travel advice to reflect this. The British embassy in Tripoli has been in contact with British nationals for whom we have contact details to alert them to the advice." Thursday's statement said: "We are now aware of a specific and imminent threat to westerners in Benghazi, and urge any British nationals who remain there against our advice to leave immediately. We have updated our travel advice to reflect this."
Libyan media said that Darroch had held talks with the Libyan interior minister, Ashour Shuwail, which also focused on British efforts to assist Libya in ensuring security. It added: "Following French military intervention in Mali, there is a possibility of retaliatory attacks targeting western interests in the region. We advise vigilance." The Netherlands said that it has discouraged "all travel and stays" in the Benghazi region but has not told its citizens to leave the area. Tension has been high in Benghazi since December, when a Libyan government operation which received support from a US military aircraft arrested a number of men suspected of assassinating the city's police chief.
Clinton made clear that the security situation in north Africa and the Middle East remained threatening in the wake of the upheavals of the Arab spring. She also warned that weapons from Libya had turned up in Algeria and elsewhere, adding that "this Pandora's box" represented a major security threat. Gun battles and attacks on police stations have continued sporadically.
Tension has been high in Benghazi since December, when a Libyan government operation which received communications support from an orbiting US military plane, arrested a number of men suspected of assassinating the city police chief. Zidan said last week that he was considering imposing a nighttime curfew on the city.
Gun battles and attacks on police stations have continued sporadically in the city since then, including an attack earlier this month on the vehicle of the Italian consul. The Italian consulate has since been evacuated, as was the British consulate last summer after a vehicle in the ambassador's convoy was struck by a rocket and small arms fire. Last week Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan said he was considering imposing a nighttime curfew on the city. In response to the Algerian attack, Libya's army chief of staff, Youssef Mangoush, has taken personal charge of security at Libya's oil and gas installations.
In response to the attack in Algeria, Libya's army chief of staff, Youssef Mangoush, has taken personal charge of security at Libya's oil and gas installations, co-opting armoured militia units from the western mountain town of Zintan to support border guards in the southern desert close to the Algerian border. Adel Mansouri, principal of the International School of Benghazi, told the Associated Press that British and other foreign nationals were warned two days ago about a possible threat to westerners.
Adel Mansouri, principal of the International School of Benghazi, told the Associated Press that British and foreign nationals were warned two days ago about a possible threat to westerners. He said the teachers were given the option of leaving but decided to stay. Saleh Gawdat, a Benghazi lawmaker, said French doctors who were working in the city's hospitals have left and that the French cultural centre has closed amid fears of potential retaliation over the French-led military intervention in Mali.
He said the school's teachers were given the option of leaving but decided to stay. The school has some 540 students. Most are Libyan with some 40% who hold dual nationality. Fewer than 5% are British, Mansouri said. Classes were not due to resume until Sunday because of a holiday on Thursday. British Airways said it would continue operating its three weekly flights between London's Heathrow airport and Tripoli.
"We told the British ambassador we are staying, and we'll be in touch," said Mansouri, himself a dual national. "We don't see a threat on the ground."
Saleh Gawdat, a Benghazi lawmaker, told AP that French doctors who were working in Benghazi hospitals have left the city and that the French cultural centre has closed out of concerns about potential retaliation over the French-led military intervention in nearby Mali, which began two weeks ago.
British Airways said it would continue operating flights to the Libyan capital Tripoli. The airline operates three flights a week between London's Heathrow airport and Tripoli. Its next flight to Libya is scheduled for Sunday.