Sunday, February 27, 2011

Libya Chaos : First batch of Malaysians airlifted from Libya expected home Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: The 130 Malaysians evacuated from strife-torn Libya will return to Malaysia in two batches, with the first batch of 92 expected to arrive here early Monday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Saturday.

He said the 92 people were scheduled to depart Rome at 12.20pm Sunday (Italian time) by Malaysia Airlines Flight MH015 and land at the KL International Airport at 6.50am on Monday.

The second batch of 38 is scheduled to leave Rome Tuesday (March 1) at 12.20pm (Italian time) and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 6.50am Wednesday, he said.

"The 130 Malaysians who were airlifted from Tripoli to Tunis were flown to Rome in a C-130 aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force yesterday (Friday) at 10.40pm (Italian time)," he said in a statement.

Anifah said the ministry would continue to monitor developments in Libya and provide assistance to several Malaysians who had opted to remain in there.

Anifah said the Malaysian ambassador to Libya, Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Noor, who had headed the evacuation mission from Tripoli to Tunis, was in Tunis to monitor the developments in Libya and report to the Malaysian government from time to time.

Meanwhile, National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudden Abd Wahab, when contacted, said all the evacuated Malaysians were in good health and staying in hotels while waiting for their flights home.

"Since they are all working adults, they will have to pay for their own airfare home. But we will try to help block as many seats as possible for them on the flights," he said.

read more @ the star:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/2/26/nation/20110226173356&sec=nation

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