Westerners urged to immediately leave Benghazi
Source: Agencies |
January 25, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN, Germany and the Netherlands yesterday urged their citizens to immediately leave the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi in response to what was described as an imminent threat against Westerners.
The warnings come a day after US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton testified to Congress about the deadly September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the ambassador to Libya. They also come as French troops battle al-Qaida linked militants in Mali, and follow the deaths of dozens of foreigners at the hands of Islamist extremists in Algeria - though it remained unclear if those two events were linked to the European nations' concerns about Libya.
The foreign ministries of the three countries issued statements variously describing the threat as specific and imminent but none gave details as to its exact nature. Germany and Britain urged their nationals still in Benghazi to leave "immediately" while Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Thijs van Son said that "staying in this area is not to be advised."
Britain's Foreign Office said likely "dozens" of its citizens were in the city, while the Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman said there are four Dutch citizens registered as being in Benghazi and possibly two more. Several countries have for months advised against all travel to the city, especially after the US consulate was attacked.
Benghazi is a business hub where many major firms employ Westerners. It also was where the Libyan uprising against longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi began in 2011. Gadhafi was killed after NATO backed the rebel movement, and the country has since struggled with security. Al-Qaida-linked militants operate in the country alongside other Islamist groups.
Violence in Benghazi has targeted both foreigners as well as Libyan officials in recent months, with assassinations, bombings and other attacks.
Oil firms working in other parts of Libya said they were aware of government warnings to citizens but there were no immediate plans for evacuations.
The warnings come a day after US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton testified to Congress about the deadly September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi that killed four Americans, including the ambassador to Libya. They also come as French troops battle al-Qaida linked militants in Mali, and follow the deaths of dozens of foreigners at the hands of Islamist extremists in Algeria - though it remained unclear if those two events were linked to the European nations' concerns about Libya.
The foreign ministries of the three countries issued statements variously describing the threat as specific and imminent but none gave details as to its exact nature. Germany and Britain urged their nationals still in Benghazi to leave "immediately" while Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Thijs van Son said that "staying in this area is not to be advised."
Britain's Foreign Office said likely "dozens" of its citizens were in the city, while the Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman said there are four Dutch citizens registered as being in Benghazi and possibly two more. Several countries have for months advised against all travel to the city, especially after the US consulate was attacked.
Benghazi is a business hub where many major firms employ Westerners. It also was where the Libyan uprising against longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi began in 2011. Gadhafi was killed after NATO backed the rebel movement, and the country has since struggled with security. Al-Qaida-linked militants operate in the country alongside other Islamist groups.
Violence in Benghazi has targeted both foreigners as well as Libyan officials in recent months, with assassinations, bombings and other attacks.
Oil firms working in other parts of Libya said they were aware of government warnings to citizens but there were no immediate plans for evacuations.
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