BENGHAZI: Calls from several western governments urging their
citizens to evacuate Benghazi have surprised diplomats and Libyan
officials who say there is no need for alarm despite chronic unrest in
the eastern city.
“Everyone is asking … why this alarm all at once,” said Jean Dufriche, the French honorary consul in Benghazi, adding that he had to heed his government’s instructions and leave the city.
Speaking by telephone, Dufriche said rumours by Islamists aimed at “forcing foreigners to leave Benghazi” spread like quick fire, causing a chain reaction in western capitals where governments told their nationals to evacuate.
“If the goal of Islamists was to empty Benghazi of foreign nationals, then they won,” he added.
Britain’s warning sparked an angry response from Libya’s government, which said there was “no new intelligence” to justify such concerns in the city.
Libya said it has yet to be informed by any western country of their intention to evacuate citizens and would demand an explanation.
Deputy Interior Minister Abdullah Massud expressed “astonishment” at the warnings and criticised London for “causing all the commotion and excitement.”
Dufriche, a doctor who has been heading a department at the Benghazi medical centre for several years, said the decisions to pull out western nationals was “hasty” because so far there were no “alarming signals” to justify it.
Source- AFP
“Everyone is asking … why this alarm all at once,” said Jean Dufriche, the French honorary consul in Benghazi, adding that he had to heed his government’s instructions and leave the city.
Speaking by telephone, Dufriche said rumours by Islamists aimed at “forcing foreigners to leave Benghazi” spread like quick fire, causing a chain reaction in western capitals where governments told their nationals to evacuate.
“If the goal of Islamists was to empty Benghazi of foreign nationals, then they won,” he added.
Britain’s warning sparked an angry response from Libya’s government, which said there was “no new intelligence” to justify such concerns in the city.
Libya said it has yet to be informed by any western country of their intention to evacuate citizens and would demand an explanation.
Deputy Interior Minister Abdullah Massud expressed “astonishment” at the warnings and criticised London for “causing all the commotion and excitement.”
Dufriche, a doctor who has been heading a department at the Benghazi medical centre for several years, said the decisions to pull out western nationals was “hasty” because so far there were no “alarming signals” to justify it.
Source- AFP
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