'All Indians in Libya safe, one ship has already reached'
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna today told the Rajya Sabha that India has confirmed that its citizens are safe in violence-torn Libya and that a rescue vessel has already reached the nation's shores.
Mr Krishna also assured the House that the stranded will not be charged money during the evacuation - referring to the Egypt situation where our contrymen were charged nearly Rs 50,000 for a seat on an Air India special flight.
India is reportedly keeping a close watch on the situation in Libya, where the death toll in anti-government protests has crossed 300, and is awaiting clearance for landing of its aircraft and for ships to evacuate its nationals.
"Just spoke to our Ambassador (M. Manimekalai) in Tripoli. She awaits clearance for landing of our aircraft and for our ships. One ship arriving Egypt today," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in a tweet.
She said from Egypt access to eastern coast of Libya will be relatively quick and less difficult.
"Our Ambassador is in touch with our nurses in Benghazi. Regular civilian flights still operating in to and out of Tripoli, I understand," Rao said.
The Indian Ambassador 'is also in touch with our Indian community in smaller Libyan cities. She and our Mission are doing their very best', the Foreign Secretary said.
According to reports, over 300 people have been killed so far in the brutal crackdown against protesters demanding an end to Muammar Gadhafi's 41-year rule in Libya.
India has deplored the use of force by Libyan authorities against anti-government protesters and said it was working on a 'mammoth' operation to evacuate about 18,000 Indian nationals from the North African nation.
Mr Krishna also informed the House that the External Affairs Ministry and Indian embassies concerned have set up round-the-clock helplines to help Indians across the volatile Arab world.
With regard to Libya where the situation continues to be volatile, Krishna said, "We are putting in place plans for possible evacuation by land, air and sea."
He noted that 'violent political protests' are being witnessed in Libya as also Yemen and Bahrain which have significant Indian community, most of whom have gone there to earn their livelihood and have been contributing to the growth and development of the host country.
"Our embassies have been in close and regular contact with the Indian community," the minister said. There are about 350,000 Indians in Bahrain and 14,000 in Yemen.
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