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| US pulls diplomats out of Libya | US pulls diplomats out of Libya |
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| Growing concerns over protests in Libya have prompted the US state department to begin evacuating some diplomats from Tripoli, as the Pentagon put troops stationed at nearby European bases on high alert. | Growing concerns over protests in Libya have prompted the US state department to begin evacuating some diplomats from Tripoli, as the Pentagon put troops stationed at nearby European bases on high alert. |
| The response was driven in part by the controversy over lax security at US diplomatic installations in Libya last year, when four US government employees, including the ambassador, Christopher Stevens, were killed in a terrorist attack. Fallout from the 11 September 2012 assault in Benghazi continues to be the subject of an intense political fight, with Republicans accusing the Obama administration of being negligent and attempting to cover up embarrassing facts. | The response was driven in part by the controversy over lax security at US diplomatic installations in Libya last year, when four US government employees, including the ambassador, Christopher Stevens, were killed in a terrorist attack. Fallout from the 11 September 2012 assault in Benghazi continues to be the subject of an intense political fight, with Republicans accusing the Obama administration of being negligent and attempting to cover up embarrassing facts. |
| The protests that have spread in Libya recently stem largely from the passage of a law that bars from public office officials who served in key roles under the deposed leader, Muammar Gaddafi. There is no indication so far that the demonstrators are targeting westerners. | The protests that have spread in Libya recently stem largely from the passage of a law that bars from public office officials who served in key roles under the deposed leader, Muammar Gaddafi. There is no indication so far that the demonstrators are targeting westerners. |
| Still, a senior defence official said a marine quick-response team and a special operations unit have been placed on alert to ensure they can respond if they are needed to evacuate personnel. The nearest US troops are stationed in Spain and Italy. | Still, a senior defence official said a marine quick-response team and a special operations unit have been placed on alert to ensure they can respond if they are needed to evacuate personnel. The nearest US troops are stationed in Spain and Italy. |
| "The reason we're able to have these forces on alert is work the defence department has done to have additional response options in the wake of Benghazi," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss contingency plans. | "The reason we're able to have these forces on alert is work the defence department has done to have additional response options in the wake of Benghazi," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss contingency plans. |
| The state department said in a statement that it has ordered the departure of a handful of "non-essential" personnel from Tripoli as a result of the "unsettled situation", which includes protests outside government facilities. "We have no indication that the current protests are directed toward westerners," the statement said. "However, sporadic episodes of civil unrest have occurred throughout the country." | The state department said in a statement that it has ordered the departure of a handful of "non-essential" personnel from Tripoli as a result of the "unsettled situation", which includes protests outside government facilities. "We have no indication that the current protests are directed toward westerners," the statement said. "However, sporadic episodes of civil unrest have occurred throughout the country." |
| The British embassy also evacuated some employees, the government said in a statement. | The British embassy also evacuated some employees, the government said in a statement. |
| The state department updated its Libya travel warning last Thursday, advising against all but essential travel to Tripoli, Benghazi and other areas. | The state department updated its Libya travel warning last Thursday, advising against all but essential travel to Tripoli, Benghazi and other areas. |
| The unrest worsened after the country's new legislature this month overwhelmingly passed the bill barring certain figures from serving in government. It could unseat officials who currently hold important jobs. | The unrest worsened after the country's new legislature this month overwhelmingly passed the bill barring certain figures from serving in government. It could unseat officials who currently hold important jobs. |
| A similar effort to ban former officials from working in the Iraqi government after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein was one of the driving factors of the Sunni insurgency there. Diplomats and analysts have expressed concern that Libya's law is too broad – potentially marginalising a large segment of the population, which could resort to violence. | A similar effort to ban former officials from working in the Iraqi government after the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein was one of the driving factors of the Sunni insurgency there. Diplomats and analysts have expressed concern that Libya's law is too broad – potentially marginalising a large segment of the population, which could resort to violence. |
| "The international community is observing the country with concern during this critical time in the transition," France, Britain and the US said in a joint statement this week, in which the governments that helped topple Gaddafi during the 2011 civil war called for restraint. "We support Libya's successful transition from ruthless dictatorship to democracy, stability and prosperity." | "The international community is observing the country with concern during this critical time in the transition," France, Britain and the US said in a joint statement this week, in which the governments that helped topple Gaddafi during the 2011 civil war called for restraint. "We support Libya's successful transition from ruthless dictatorship to democracy, stability and prosperity." |
| This article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from Washington Post | This article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from Washington Post |
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