The ambassador said most of the migrant workers are still under the protection of their employers, and some of them took refuge in neighbors` houses because their employers had to flee.
Cairo, Egypt (ANTARA News) - As many as 19 Indonesian nationals, all female migrant workers, are still in Libya but safe, according to Indonesian ambassador to Tunisia Muhammad Ibnu Said here on Monday.

"I have just been in contact with some of our citizens in Tripoli. They are safe and being prepared for evacuation to Tunis," the ambassador told ANTARA News.

The ambassador said most of the migrant workers are still under the protection of their employers, and some of them took refuge in neighbors` houses because their employers had to flee, and one house maid took refuge at the Indonesian embassy in Tripoli.

"I have talked to the migrant workers employers` neighbors who accommodated them and asked them to protect them until the embassy can pick them up. I also asked them to keep their cell phones open for communication with the Embassy in Tunis," the ambassador said.

It had been difficult to contact the female migrant workers since last August 16 because the telephone network was disconnected, and the ambassador could only contact them on Monday at 10:50 local time.

The migrant workers reported that gunfire and bombs were still heard in the streets which made them afraid to go out.

Ambassador Muhammad Ibnu Said also asked the migrant workers to stay indoors until the security situation had improved.

The Indonesian embassy in Tripoli was closed a few months ago, and had since then been watched over by a few local staffers, ​​he said, adding that the local staffers had been requested to keep flying the Indonesian national flag in front of the embassy.

The situation in Tripoli was still uncertain. It was unclear whether the city had come under the control of the opposition forces or was still in the hands of the Muammar Gaddafi regime.

Rebels in Libya staged a lightning strike through Tripoli on Sunday.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011