Westerners urged to leave Benghazi
2013-01-24 18:05
London - Britain's Foreign Office urged UK nationals to
immediately leave the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi in response to an
imminent threat against Westerners.
The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to
Benghazi since September, and on Thursday it said is aware of a "specific
and imminent threat”.
It urged all British nationals still in the eastern city
of Benghazi to "leave immediately" and declined to comment on the
nature of the threat.
The warning comes a day after US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton testified to US lawmakers about the handling of the deadly 11
September attack on the American mission in Benghazi.
The attack killed the US ambassador to Libya and three
other Americans.
In addition to the attack on the US consulate, an Italian
diplomat's car was fired on by militants
Britain's Foreign Office said it does not have a diplomatic
presence in Benghazi, where the Libyan uprising against long-time dictator
Muammar Gaddafi began in 2011.
Libya's security has sharply deteriorated after Gaddafi's
ouster and killing.
Meanwhile, The Netherlands is also appealing to its
citizens to leave the Benghazi.
Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesperson Thijs van Son says
the ministry is upgrading its travel warning for Benghazi.
He says the Dutch "have reason to believe there is a
serious threat coming up" but declined to elaborate.
Van Son says there are four Dutch citizens registered as
being in Benghazi and possibly two more.
- AP
