Britain and France withdraw their citizens from Libya

France and Britain has withdrawn more than 50 French and British citizens from Libya by ship, French authorities said on Wednesday amid growing lawlessness and unrest in the north African country.

A French diplomatic source said 40 French nationals, including the ambassador, were withdraw from the country along with seven British nationals.

Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said the French and British nationals had been evacuated by ship but did not say how many.

The naval ship carrying them is bound for the southern French port of Toulon and the French embassy in Tripoli has been for the time being closed, the foreign ministry said.

Two weeks of fighting around Tripoli airport and between rival militias have killed scores of people and pressed several countries to urge their citizens to leave Libya.

‘High terror threat’

The British ministry warned of a high threat of terrorism, noting that a number of foreign nationals have been shot dead in recent months.

It told those still in Libya, believed to number between 100 and 300, to avoid demonstrations or large crowds and to “keep a low profile”.

The US announcement that it was evacuating its embassy came hours after Libya’s interim government warned that the clashes between militia vying for control of the strategic airport were threatening to tear the country apart.