Austria Prepares for Evacuations from Libya, Other Arab Countries

Austria announced Sunday it was sending a military plane to Malta in view of evacuating Austrian and European citizens from Libya or other Arab countries, following recent unrest in the region.

"Due to the security situation in Libya, which has worsened in the last few hours, the government has decided to send a C-130 Hercules from the Austrian army, as well as special relief units, to southern Europe," the defense ministry said in a statement.

"The escalation of the situation in Libya has made preparations for the evacuation of Austrian as well as European Union nationals necessary," Defense Minister Norbert Darabos added.

The military plane flew off Sunday morning, but when the evacuations would take place was still undecided, the ministry said.