Britons should leave Libya immediately, Foreign Office says

The Foreign Office has said that Britons currently in Libya should leave the country immediately, as fighting escalates and the chance of attacks on foreigners increases. 

 

There are thought to be between 100 and 300 Britons in Libya at the moment, and the advice comes following a “greater intensity of fighting” there.

 

According to reports, clashes between Islamist militants and the Libyan government near Tripoli airport and in the Libyan city of Benghazi have led to at least 50 deaths so far. 

 

A number of foreign nationals have been shot dead in Libya over the past six months, and further attacks are described as “likely”.

 

The announcement follows a similar move made by the US yesterday, which evacuated its embassy and sent diplomats to neighbouring Tunisia after fighting intensified between rival militias in the capital's streets.

 

"Due to the ongoing violence resulting from clashes between Libyan militias in the immediate vicinity of the US embassy in Tripoli, we have temporarily relocated all of our personnel out of Libya," said state department spokeswoman Marie Harf.

 

The Foreign Office added that although its ability to provide consular assistance was “very limited” due to reduced staff at the British embassy in Tripoli, there are several options available for people looking to leave by commercial means.