Govt to evacuate Indians from Libya

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) With rising death toll inanti-government protests in Libya, government today decided toevacuate its nationals numbering about 18,000 from thatcountry.

"Arrangements for air and sea evacuation of ournationals from Libya are being finalised," Foreign SecretaryNirupama Rao said.

Rao, along with other top officials from otherministries concerned, held a meeting to work out the logisticsof the evacuation process which has already got a nod fromthe political leadership, sources told PTI.

They said External Affairs Minister S M Krishna hasbeen briefing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about all thecontingency plans to ensure safety and security of Indians inLibya.

According to reports, more than 300 people have beenkilled so far in the brutal crackdown against protestersdemanding an end to Muammar Gadhafi''s 41-year rule in Libya.