Europe urges citizens to leave Libya's Benghazi

Reuters ^ | Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Mohammed Abbas

[JohnPDuncan]

(Reuters) - Britain urged its nationals to leave the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Thursday, citing a "specific and imminent" threat to Westerners days after a deadly attack by Islamist militants in neighbouring Algeria.

Britain's Foreign Office declined to give details of the nature of the threat, but has warned in the past of the long reach of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the North African wing of al Qaeda.

At least 38 hostages were killed in an attack on the remote In Amenas gas complex in Algeria, about 100 kms (60 miles) from the Libyan border. French forces are also fighting Islamist rebels in Mali.

"We are now aware of a specific and imminent threat to Westerners in Benghazi, and urge any British nationals who remain there against our advice to leave immediately," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Few Westerners are believed to be in Benghazi, which has experienced a wave of violence targeting foreign diplomats, military and police officers, including an attack in September that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

[wiggen]

Why would anyone still be there. why???

[Iron Munro]

This is a job for Rambabe

Heroine Of The Tuzla Airport Sniper Attack

[BlackVeil]

That is exactly what I was thinking ...