New Delhi:
India's continuing with its evacuation of the nearly 18,000 Indians based in Libya.
Twenty per cent of the Indian population has been evacuated so far.
A ship left the port city of Benghazi today with close to 1000 people on board. It will reach Alexandria in Egypt tomorrow, from where special flights will bring the passengers home. A passenger ship is also headed to Misurata.
The Indian government has been given permission to land three Air India flights everyday in Tripoli. The Indian government has asked all private carriers - Jet, Kingfisher, Spicejet, Indigo - to operate one flight each to help bring citizens back.
India has also asked Libya for permission to land flights in Sebha and Sirte, two other cities where many Indians are reportedly stranded.
Of 18000 Indians in Libya, 3504 safely evacuated till now, including 1134 from Tripoli by Air India, 1188 from Benghazi by Scotia Prince.