Britons return from Libya as UN imposes sanctions

  • 13 years ago

The final Foreign Office-chartered flight from Libya has arrived in Britain with many passengers grateful to have escaped the strife-torn North African state.

Around 100 people, including 53 Britons, touched down on Saturday night on Flight BUR220 at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex, many of whom work in the oil industry.

One of them, 45-year-old James Munro, from Elgin, Scotland, said the camp he was staying in survived any problems but many others were not so lucky.

Speaking at Gatwick's South Terminal, he said: "We were stuck in the desert so one of the biggest problems was getting out of there.

"When we were eventually given a place on a plane this morning we were given 10 minutes to pack our bags and there were only three seats available."

Detailing the chaotic scenes once he reached Tripoli Airport, Mr Munro said: "Tripoli Airport is filthy and there are hundreds, thousands sitting outside and inside the airport. Fighting broke out and it's really chaotic."

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has unanimously imposed sanctions in the form of travel bans and asset freezes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family.

The resolution adopted by the 15-nation council also called for the immediate referral of the deadly crackdown against anti-government demonstrators in Libya to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for investigation and possible prosecution of anyone responsible for killing civilians.

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