Sushma Swaraj asks Indians stranded in Tripoli to leave immediately

As Libya's capital Tripoli continues to be hit by violence, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said that over 500 Indians are stuck there and suggested that they leave the city immediately.

Sushma Swaraj (Source: PTI)

NEW DELHI: As Libya's capital Tripoli continues to be hit by violence, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday said that over 500 Indians are stuck there and suggested that they leave the city immediately. She said that if the Indians stranded in the Libyan capital do not leave immediately, then it may not be possible to evacuate them later. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that 213 people have been killed and 1,009 others injured in the fighting between the UN-backed Libyan government and the east-based Army in and around Tripoli. "Even after massive evacuation from Libya and the travel ban, there are over 500 Indian nationals in Tripoli. The situation in Tripoli is deteriorating fast. Presently, flights are operational," Swaraj tweeted. "Pls ask your relatives and friends to leave Tripoli immediately. We will not be able to evacuate them later," she wrote on her Twitter handle.

Even after massive evacuation from Libya and the travel ban, there are over 500 Indian nationals in Tripoli. The situation in Tripoli is deteriorating fast. Presently, flights are operational. /1 PL RT

— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 19, 2019

Pls ask your relatives and friends to leave Tripoli immediately. We will not be able to evacuate them later. /2 Pls RT

— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 19, 2019

The Army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli where the UN-backed government is based. Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. India had earlier evacuated its entire contingent of 15 Central Reserve Police Force personnel who were deployed in Tripoli. (With inputs from agencies)