France, Canada Evacuating Nationals from Libya, Portugal and Netherlands Shut Embassies

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France was evacuating its nationals from Libya on Tuesday amid increasing lawlessness and unrest, a government source said, after similar moves by other European nations.

There are less than 100 French nationals in Libya and they will be taken out of the country by ship, the source said, adding that the operation would be over by the afternoon.

Canada also evacuated its diplomatic staff from Libya on Tuesday.

"Due to operational challenges, including the unpredictable security environment in Tripoli, we have authorized the temporary suspension of operations at our office," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said.

Canadian diplomats will instead work out of Canada's embassy in Tunisia until fighting between rival militia factions halts.

There are an estimated 350 Canadian nationals in Libya, according to Ottawa.

Later on Tuesday, the Netherlands and Portugal announced they were temporarily closing their embassies.

The Portuguese foreign ministry said it had already evacuated its nationals who wanted to leave and those who decided to stay did so at their own risk, the ministry added.

The United States also shuttered its embassy in Tripoli, while several countries including Britain, France, Germany and Egypt advised their nationals over the weekend to leave immediately.

Fighting between rival militias for control of Tripoli airport and between Islamists and a former general in Benghazi, cradle of the 2011 revolution that ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has killed scores.

Meanwhile an inferno has blazed since Sunday at an oil depot on the outskirts of the capital after a rocket struck a tank containing more than six million liters (1.6 million gallons) of fuel.

Comments 1
Thumb chrisrushlau 29 July 2014, 18:30

"Our work here is done."