This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28564637
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| France evacuates French and British expats from Libya | France evacuates French and British expats from Libya |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The French government says it has evacuated French and British nationals from Libya, as battles rage between government forces and militias. | The French government says it has evacuated French and British nationals from Libya, as battles rage between government forces and militias. |
| A French diplomatic source said 40 French nationals, including the ambassador, had been evacuated by ship along with seven British nationals. | A French diplomatic source said 40 French nationals, including the ambassador, had been evacuated by ship along with seven British nationals. |
| France's embassy in Tripoli has been closed temporarily, the French foreign ministry said on its website. | France's embassy in Tripoli has been closed temporarily, the French foreign ministry said on its website. |
| Libya has been gripped by instability since the 2011 uprising. | Libya has been gripped by instability since the 2011 uprising. |
| The French government spokesman in Paris, Stephane Le Foll, announced that French and British nationals had been evacuated, without giving numbers. | The French government spokesman in Paris, Stephane Le Foll, announced that French and British nationals had been evacuated, without giving numbers. |
| An unnamed diplomatic source gave the numbers to France's AFP news agency, saying the expats had been evacuated by the French army. | An unnamed diplomatic source gave the numbers to France's AFP news agency, saying the expats had been evacuated by the French army. |
| They are aboard a warship bound for the southern French port of Toulon, the French foreign ministry said. | |
| On Sunday, the US evacuated its embassy in Tripoli, citing a "real risk" because of the fighting. | On Sunday, the US evacuated its embassy in Tripoli, citing a "real risk" because of the fighting. |
| Together with France, Germany and the UK, it advised its nationals in Libya to leave immediately. | Together with France, Germany and the UK, it advised its nationals in Libya to leave immediately. |
| The UN announced this week it was pulling its staff out. | The UN announced this week it was pulling its staff out. |
| France and the UK played an important role in enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya in 2011, when rebels toppled long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was captured and killed. | France and the UK played an important role in enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya in 2011, when rebels toppled long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was captured and killed. |
| Dozens of people have been killed in the fighting in recent weeks, which has centred on the city of Benghazi, where the main military base fell to Islamist-led militants on Wednesday. |