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Royal Navy ship arrives in Tripoli to help evacuate Britons from Libya Royal Navy evacuates Britons from Libya amid fierce fighting
(about 4 hours later)
British nationals stranded in Libya amid fierce fighting are in the process of being evacuated from Tripoli to a Royal Navy ship in waters off the country's capital. British nationals stranded in Libya amid fierce fighting have been evacuated from Tripoli by a Royal Navy ship taking them to safety in Malta.
The Ministry of Defence initially said it was unable to confirm reports that HMS Enterprise, a survey ship diverted from a routine deployment in the Mediterranean to Tripoli to collect about 100 British nationals, had sought assistance amid heavy battles near the city's airport. The Ministry of Defence said that HMS Enterprise, a survey ship on a routine deployment in the Mediterranean, was diverted to waters off the Libyan capital to collect an unspecified number of British nationals. The evacuees, believed to number around 100, were taken to HMS Enterprise in smaller boats.
However, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are currently carrying out an assisted departure. It is happening at the moment. The majority [of those being evacuated] are British." The operation was launched after the Foreign Office announced it was temporarily closing its embassy and other consular operations in Libya following increasingly brutal battles between various militia groups fighting for control of Tripoli's airport, which saw 22 people killed on Saturday.
The MoD later released a statement from HMS Enterprise's commanding officer, Cdr Mark Varta, saying: "This is a period of uncertainty for UK citizens based in Libya but we have been proud to play our part in enabling their move to safety. My ship's company have adapted to the challenge superbly, making as much space as possible and providing essential food, shelter and security for the journey." The MoD released a statement from HMS Enterprise's commanding officer, Cdr Mark Varta, saying: "This is a period of uncertainty for UK citizens based in Libya but we have been proud to play our part in enabling their move to safety. My ship's company have adapted to the challenge superbly, making as much space as possible and providing essential food, shelter and security for the journey."
The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said: "I thank the crew of HMS Enterprise for their support and professionalism in carrying out this important task."The defence secretary, Michael Fallon, said: "I thank the crew of HMS Enterprise for their support and professionalism in carrying out this important task."
It is believed that the 90-metre-long survey ship, which usually carries out work to update navigation charts, will deposit Britons fleeing to safety in Malta, just over 200 miles away. The 90-metre-long survey ship, normally based in Plymouth, is eight weeks into an 18-month mission carrying out surveys in the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean, Red Sea and Gulf to update international navigation charts.
The Foreign Office's advice to Britons in Libya, updated on Sunday, says they are "strongly urged to leave immediately by commercial means" because of fighting around Tripoli and wider instability across the country. The advice says that some international flights are still leaving Misrata and Mitaga airports, to the west of Tripoli, while certain land crossings remain open, though both could change at short notice. The Foreign Office had earlier warned Britons in Libya in its official travel advice for the country that they were "strongly urged to leave immediately by commercial means" because of the fighting around Tripoli and wider instability nationwide. The advice said some international flights were still leaving Misrata and Mitaga airports, to the west of Tripoli, but that those unable to leave independently could seek "assisted departure".
"The British embassy is arranging an assisted departure for British nationals. Places are limited and requests for travel will be strictly prioritised." According to Libya's interim government, at least 22 people were killed on Saturday as militias fought for control of Tripoli's airport, taking the total death toll in fighting over recent weeks, which has also affected the city of Benghazi, to 236.
The embassy in Tripoli will suspend operations on Monday, the statement says, with registration for assisted exit closing at 6pm Libyan time on Sunday (5pm BST). Those seeking help are asked to call the Foreign Office. Libya is in the grip of its worst violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Islamist militias from the coastal city of Misrata led the assault on the airport, seeking to seize it from militias from the town of Zintan. The fighters are mainly former rebels who toppled Gaddafi with the aid of Nato air strikes.
According to reports, HMS Enterprise was to moor off Tripoli with Britons brought on board by launches protected by Royal Marines. As the fighting raged, many members of Libya's newly elected parliament met for the first time in Tobrouk, near the Egyptian border – a venue chosen by Abu Bakr Baiera, a prominent anti-Islamist politician. At the same time, Islamist militias overran several army bases and took control of the eastern city of Benghazi, the centre of the 2011 revolt.
Earlier, an MoD statement said that while it could confirm UK nationals would get help leaving before the embassy shut on Monday, for "operational reasons" it could not give any details of how this would happen.
According to Libya's interim government, at least 22 people were killed on Saturday as militias fought for control of Tripoli's airport.
In a statement early on Sunday, it said heavily armed groups had shelled civilian targets. Similar fighting has claimed more than 200 lives in recent weeks.
Libya is in the grip of its worst violence since the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Islamist militias from the coastal city of Misrata led the assault on the airport, seeking to seize it from militias from the mountain town of Zintan. The fighters are mainly former rebels who toppled Gaddafi with the aid of Nato air strikes.
As the fighting raged, many members of Libya's newly elected parliament met for the first time in Tobrouk, near the Egyptian border – a venue chosen by Abu Bakr Baiera, a prominent anti-Islamist politician.
However, at the same time, Islamist militias overran several army bases and took control of the eastern city of Benghazi, the centre of the 2011 revolt.