Some 80 people have been accommodated in the resident of the Indonesian ambassador to Tunisia, and the rest are staying with the Indonesian`s embassy staffers in Tunis because it`s an emergency situation
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has been trying to evacuate more Indonesian nationals from Libya in two more flights, while 257 people had landed in Tunisia, early Saturday of the Indonesian Western Standard Time (WIB), an official said.

Of the total 870 Indonesians being trapped in the riot-torn Libya, 257 had been evacuated from Tripoli to Tunis by using Tunis Air on Friday evening local time, Imelda Sari, assistant to the presidential special staff, said in a short message to ANTARA, here, Saturday.

"Some 80 people have been accommodated in the resident of the Indonesian ambassador to Tunisia, and the rest are staying with the Indonesian`s embassy staffers in Tunis because it`s an emergency situation," Imelda Said.

She said the foreign ministry had dispatched four personnel to help evacuation process in Tripoli. They have been equipped with logistics, satellite telephone and bullet-proof vests.

"Reports from the Indonesian embassy in Tripoli said that there are obstacles facing the evacuation process because the Indonesian nationals have to be picked up from their respective homes, water purchase is restricted to cooking purpose only, and more over there are food shortages due to the political turmoil," she said.

The Indonesian defense attache in the Indonesian embassy in Cairo, which had experiences in dealing with evacuees earlier, would also be going to Tunis on Saturday to help handle the evacuees.

Earlier Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto had said that some 210 workers of state construction company WIKA would be flying to Jakarta by Emirates after being accommodated for several days in the Indonesian embassy in Tunis.

After 41 years in power, almost the entire east of the north African country has slipped from Moammar Kadhafi`s control since a popular uprising began with protests in the port city of Benghazi on February 15.

Hundreds of people have been killed in a brutal crackdown and tens of thousands of foreigners are scrambling to leave the country.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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