New Delhi:
India has expressed "deep concern" over the situation in Libya following violent anti-government protests and said it was working on contingency plans to ensure safety of its 18,000 nationals there and, if required, evacuate them.
Libyan Ambassador to India Ali al-Essawi, meanwhile, has reportedly resigned in protest against his government's violent crackdown on demonstrators.
With civilian unrest against the ruling regimes spreading to Gulf, West Asian and North African regions, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have briefed him on steps to ensure the safety and security of lakhs of Indians there.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the contingency plans of the ministry in case of any threat to the Indian population living in these regions, sources said.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said no decision has been taken on evacuation of the Indians in Libya. Hundreds of Indian nurses are employed in the Arab state.
"We have not taken any decision on evacuation yet. But we will obviously monitor the situation and take whatever steps necessary to deal with it," Rao said while expressing "deep concern" over the situation in Libya.
Yemen, Libya, Bahrain and Tunisia have been witnessing violent anti-government protests in the last few weeks.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said a committee has been set up to monitor the situation in Libya and prepare plans to meet any eventuality in wake of the unprecedented protest in the Arab state against the Moammar Gadhafi regime that has left 223 persons dead.
"The committee would comprise Foreign Secretary and Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary among others. This committee would be planning to meet any eventuality," he said.
"Government is making all preparations to meet any eventuality so that we can act immediately," he added.
The External Affairs Ministry has established a 'situation room' to provide necessary facilitation to members of the Indian community in the countries affected by the unrest. A Control room has already been set up in the ministry to enable people in Libya to get in touch with government here.
Rao said two meetings were held today and strategies to meet the developing situation could take shape over the next few days.
"We are concerned about nurses in Benghazi (Libya) and our ambassador has reached out to them. They are safe. We have 3,000 Indians in the city," she said.
"We have no consular presence in Benghazi. We are working on contingency plan, rest assured. The city is on course and also close to Egypt border," she tweeted on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
Rao also said India will also be talking to other countries particularly from European Union which have their nationals in Libya.
Libyan Ambassador to India Ali al-Essawi, meanwhile, has reportedly resigned in protest against his government's violent crackdown on demonstrators.
With civilian unrest against the ruling regimes spreading to Gulf, West Asian and North African regions, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is understood to have briefed him on steps to ensure the safety and security of lakhs of Indians there.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the contingency plans of the ministry in case of any threat to the Indian population living in these regions, sources said.
Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said no decision has been taken on evacuation of the Indians in Libya. Hundreds of Indian nurses are employed in the Arab state.
"We have not taken any decision on evacuation yet. But we will obviously monitor the situation and take whatever steps necessary to deal with it," Rao said while expressing "deep concern" over the situation in Libya.
Yemen, Libya, Bahrain and Tunisia have been witnessing violent anti-government protests in the last few weeks.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said a committee has been set up to monitor the situation in Libya and prepare plans to meet any eventuality in wake of the unprecedented protest in the Arab state against the Moammar Gadhafi regime that has left 223 persons dead.
"The committee would comprise Foreign Secretary and Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary among others. This committee would be planning to meet any eventuality," he said.
"Government is making all preparations to meet any eventuality so that we can act immediately," he added.
The External Affairs Ministry has established a 'situation room' to provide necessary facilitation to members of the Indian community in the countries affected by the unrest. A Control room has already been set up in the ministry to enable people in Libya to get in touch with government here.
Rao said two meetings were held today and strategies to meet the developing situation could take shape over the next few days.
"We are concerned about nurses in Benghazi (Libya) and our ambassador has reached out to them. They are safe. We have 3,000 Indians in the city," she said.
"We have no consular presence in Benghazi. We are working on contingency plan, rest assured. The city is on course and also close to Egypt border," she tweeted on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
Rao also said India will also be talking to other countries particularly from European Union which have their nationals in Libya.
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