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Libya evacuation: Cameron pledge on remaining Britons | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the government "will do everything it can" to evacuate safely up to 500 Britons left in Libya. | |
After about 500 Britons left by plane and boat on Thursday, Mr Cameron said those remaining "do need to leave now". | |
He said action was being taken "right now" to help British oil workers in remote desert areas, and the Royal Navy's HMS York was going to the area. | |
The evacuation was earlier criticised as slow, for which the PM apologised. | |
On Friday morning, Mr Cameron chaired meetings of the National Security Council and Cobra emergency committee, which includes Foreign Secretary William Hague, Defence Secretary Liam Fox, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Sir David Richards. | |
The Foreign Office (FCO) has given details of flights returning British nationals to the UK: | |
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An FCO statement said: "The security situation at the airport has been deteriorating in recent hours and the route to the airport is becoming more precarious. We continue to monitor the situation closely." | |
Consular staff were with 42 British nationals currently on a US ferry in Tripoli harbour, who had been advised to "stay on board as the route to the airport is now unsafe", the statement said. | |
The frigate HMS Cumberland has picked up 68 British nationals from Benghazi and is due to arrive late today in Malta, where the evacuees will pick up flights to the UK. | |
An FCO spokesperson denied a report that bribes had been paid to officials at Tripoli airport. | |
Charges applied to all countries and carriers using the airport had increased during the current unrest, the spokesperson said, adding: "We have had to pay them, the alternative being to leave hundreds of British nationals stranded in Tripoli." | |
'Fiasco' | 'Fiasco' |
Several people who arrived back at Gatwick on Thursday described the Foreign Office's response as "disastrous". | Several people who arrived back at Gatwick on Thursday described the Foreign Office's response as "disastrous". |
They complained about being cold, wet and hungry while waiting 14 hours for the plane to arrive and take them home. | They complained about being cold, wet and hungry while waiting 14 hours for the plane to arrive and take them home. |
One told the BBC: "If the government's going to do something it needs to pull its finger out and actually physically do something." | One told the BBC: "If the government's going to do something it needs to pull its finger out and actually physically do something." |
Another said: "The people on the ground from the British embassy, when we finally found them at the airport, they couldn't have been better. But the communication with London, it was just a fiasco." | Another said: "The people on the ground from the British embassy, when we finally found them at the airport, they couldn't have been better. But the communication with London, it was just a fiasco." |
One of the lucky ones to get out was a British woman who was airlifted with her newborn baby by an Irish government Learjet. | |
The woman, who had a Caesarean section, was evacuated to Malta with her husband and two other children. | |
Earlier, Mr Cameron said of the British response: "Of course I am incredibly sorry. They have had a difficult time. The conditions at the airport have been extremely poor. | |
"There are going to be lessons to be learned from this and we will make absolutely sure that we learn them for the future but, right now, the priority has got to be getting those British nationals home." | |
US President Barack Obama and Mr Cameron discussed Libya on the telephone on Thursday night. | |
'Seizing the moment' | 'Seizing the moment' |
A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The prime minister updated the president on his trip to the Middle East, stressing the importance of seizing this moment of opportunity for change in the region. | A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The prime minister updated the president on his trip to the Middle East, stressing the importance of seizing this moment of opportunity for change in the region. |
"The leaders discussed Libya and agreed to work together closely on the swift evacuation of nationals. They also agreed to co-ordinate on possible multilateral measures on Libya, including at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday." | "The leaders discussed Libya and agreed to work together closely on the swift evacuation of nationals. They also agreed to co-ordinate on possible multilateral measures on Libya, including at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday." |
Labour leader Ed Miliband has criticised the government's reaction to the crisis. | |
He said: "I'm afraid the government has been slow off the mark and lessons need to be learned, but the priority now is to get those British citizens out as soon as possible. That's why the prime minister needs to get a grip on the situation." | He said: "I'm afraid the government has been slow off the mark and lessons need to be learned, but the priority now is to get those British citizens out as soon as possible. That's why the prime minister needs to get a grip on the situation." |
UK nationals wishing to register an interest in flights out of Libya should call 020 7008 0000 from the UK or 021 3403644/45 from Libya. | UK nationals wishing to register an interest in flights out of Libya should call 020 7008 0000 from the UK or 021 3403644/45 from Libya. |
The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to Libya. | The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to Libya. |
Have you been affected? Do you have relatives in Libya? Send us your comments. | Have you been affected? Do you have relatives in Libya? Send us your comments. |