India seeks aircraft landing rights in interior Libya

As evacuation of Indians from Libya gained momentum, government on Monday said it had sought aircraft landing rights in Sehba in interior Libya where over 1000 Indians have been stranded as anti-government protesters took control of several cities in the oil-rich nation.

"Our Ambassador has sought clearance from the Libyan government for evacuation flights to land at Sehba, which is in the interior of the country where there are at least 1000 Indians stranded," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters here.

She said authorities have to rely only on evacuation by aircraft in Libya as the country does not have a rail network and travel by road is not considered to be safe.

India was not facing any problems from Libyan authorities in the massive evacuation operation of about 18,000 of its nationals launched last week, she said.

Rao said India has got permission for operating four flights from Tripoli as the Libyan authorities were granting clearance for air evacuation in stages.

"We have clearances for four flights we have no problems. It is a question of getting clearance which they are giving in stages. You do not have to look at it as a problem," she said in reply to a question.

Indian government was making efforts for one of its ships to dock at Tripoli port from where it can evacuate Indian nationals.

Currently, ships chartered by India have got docking rights at Benghazi from where evacuation process would take place.

As per the arrangements, the ships chartered by the government will ferry the evacuees from Benghazi to Alexandria in neighbouring Egypt from where they will be flown to India.
The ship docking at Benghazi has a capacity to ferry 1,200 passengers and it is expected to do a few trips to Alexandria to evacuate Indian nationals. Government expected to evacuate at least one third of the 18,000 Indian, stuck in strife-torn Libya, by tomorrow through air and sea.

Rao said she was aware that people were finding it difficult to reach the port city of Benghazi due to security conditions in Libya.

Rao said the government was also in touch with private companies who have a large number of Indian nationals working for them.

Two special Air India flights - AI 800 and AI 171 are likely to ferry back around 600 passengers from Tripoli. Up to 3000 Indian nationals, including 400 who have travelled from Al Kufrah by road, will be evacuated by Scotia Prince and La Superba, the chartered passengers ships.