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US shuts embassy in Libya due to militia clashes US evacuates embassy staff from Libya due to militia clashes
(35 minutes later)
The US says it has temporarily shut its embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli over security concerns. The US says it has temporarily evacuated its staff from the Libyan capital Tripoli over security concerns.
Embassy staff, including marine guards providing security to the embassy, have been evacuated to Tunisia "due to the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias," it adds. Staff, including marine guards providing security to the embassy, have been transferred to Tunisia "due to the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias," it adds.
The state department has also urged US nationals not to go to Libya. Secretary of State John Kerry said there was a "real risk" to staff.
It comes amid fierce clashes between rival militias in the capital, with recent fighting at Tripoli airport. It comes amid fierce clashes between rival militias in the capital, with intense fighting at Tripoli airport.
Libya has been gripped by instability since the 2011 uprising, with swathes of the country controlled by militias.Libya has been gripped by instability since the 2011 uprising, with swathes of the country controlled by militias.
The US embassy in Tripoli was already operating on limited staffing. All remaining personnel were driven overland to Tunisia in the early hours of Saturday.
The US military said it had "assisted in the relocation" of embassy staff, using F-16 and MV-22 Osprey aircraft.
It said the five-hour operation was "conducted without incident".
State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the withdrawal "underscored the Obama administration's concern about the heightened risk to American diplomats abroad".State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the withdrawal "underscored the Obama administration's concern about the heightened risk to American diplomats abroad".
US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi in September 2012. She said that fighting between rival armed groups was taking place "in very close proximity" to the US embassy in the capital.
The US embassy in Tripoli was already operating on limited staffing. All remaining personnel were driven overland to Tunisia in the early hours of Saturday, Ms Harf said. The state department has also urged US nationals not to go to Libya.
It is the second time in more than three years that the US has closed its embassy in Libya.It is the second time in more than three years that the US has closed its embassy in Libya.
Turkey has also withdrawn some 700 members of staff from Libya, Secretary of State John Kerry said.
US ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the US consulate in Benghazi in September 2012.
Rival Libyan militias have been locked in battle at Libya's main airport in the south of Tripoli since last week, forcing the airport to shut.Rival Libyan militias have been locked in battle at Libya's main airport in the south of Tripoli since last week, forcing the airport to shut.
Libya has seen the rise of numerous militia groups operating since the civil war in 2011 that toppled the longstanding leader Col Muammar Gaddafi.