MOSCOW, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - France has started to evacuate its nationals from Libya on Tuesday amid increasing lawlessness and unrest in the country, French newspaper The Local reported.
"Given the deteriorating security situation, France is asking its nationals to leave Libya," the French Foreign Ministry said in the latest warning as cited by The Local.
According to The Local, there are fewer than 100 French nationals in Libya and they will be evacuated out of the country by ship this evening.
Earlier, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain, Belgium, Philippines, Egypt and the United States have also urged their citizens to leave Libya as soon as possible.
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s website states that "Due to the ongoing and greater intensity of fighting in Tripoli and wider instability throughout Libya, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Libya.”
German’s Foreign Ministry said that "The situation is extremely unpredictable and uncertain. German nationals are at increased risk of kidnapping and attacks."
Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, as well as many other countries warned their nationals against travelling to Libya.
On Saturday, United States announced a temporary shutdown of the American embassy in Libya and evacuation of the staff as they faced a "real risk" from fierce fighting around Tripoli airport, according to US Secretary of State John Kerry.
The announcement came right after Libya’s interim government warned that the clashes between militia vying for control of the Tripoli airport were threatening to tear the country apart.
According to the Libyan Health Ministry, 97 people were killed and 400 wounded in clashes around Tripoli international airport since July 13.
Escalation of violence in Libya began back in 2011 following the overthrow of country’s long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi. A large number of armed groups continue operating in the country, taking over the whole districts. The militants possess a large arsenal of weapons, including heavy warfare that was seized from the government forces during the 2011 uprising.
