British embassy in Libya ‘suspends operations’

The UK has temporarily pulled out its diplomatic mission from Libya and relocating the remaining British embassy staff to Tunis, the BBC reported.

“Reluctantly, we’ve decided we have to leave and temporarily suspend embassy operations in Libya,” the ambassador Michael Aron tweeted last night. “We will be back as soon as security allows. Fighting has spread to where we live in Suraj and the risk of getting caught in the crossfire is too great.”

According to the Libya Herald, Italy and Malta remain the only two EU nations to maintain their diplomatic missions in Tripoli.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was reported in the Italian press urging EU nations to stay in Libya if they are serious about tackling major global issues.

MaltaToday understands that the Maltese government is reluctant to pull out its diplomatic mission from Tripoli while Maltese nationals remain in the strife-torn Libya.

With the expected arrival of 23 Maltese nationals on Saturday evening, the number of Maltese in Libya has gone down to around 70. Despite the Maltese passengers did not pay for today’s trip from Libya to Malta, a number of Maltese have chosen to remain there.

The government is at this stage assisting Maltese nationals in their departure from Tripoli and Benghazi. In technical terms, this is not an evacuation.

MaltaToday is informed that Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella is in constant contact with his Italian counterpart, Federica Mogherini.

Malta may also seek assistance from other countries if mass evacuations by other countries are ordered.

The UK Foreign Office, which has urged Britons to leave the country immediately, said consular assistance would not be available from Monday.

More than 200 people have been killed in Tripoli and Benghazi in the past two weeks.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the two cities on Friday to denounce militias who have been fighting Libyan armed forces.