By Libya Herald staff.
Cairo, 17 February 2015:
While Egypt plans an evacuation of its citizens in Libya after the killing of 21 . . .[restrict]Egyptian Christians by IS, confusingly different reports are circulating on social media and in Egyptian news outlets regarding other Egyptians who have been gone missing in Libya.
Reports yesterday of 35 Egyptians who went missing near Sirte have been difficult to verify. Egyptian media reported that a resident of the Egyptian village of Beni Suef received a phone call from a contact in Libya saying that 35 Egyptian construction workers were kidnapped Tuesday morning. There is, however, no official confirmation of this.
Meanwhile, reports have circulated over the weekend that a number of Egyptian fishermen were detained in Libya. While some officials from Libya Dawn have denied that any fishermen were detained, a Misrata Council member was quoted today by Egyptian media announcing the release of 114 Egyptians held in Libya. That number, he said, included 14 fishermen picked up for fishing in Libyan waters without permission.
The Shura Council of Derna Mujahideen promised that Egyptian labourers in Derna will be safe and treated fairly, while the media office for the Libya Dawn released a statement telling all Egyptians currently in Libya to leave in the next 48 hours “for their own safety”.
Egyptian Aviation authorities are putting together a plan to evacuate Egyptians via bus to Tunisia and from there via plane to Egypt, using four Tunisian airports, citing deteriorating conditions at Libya airports as a reason for routing through Tunisia.
This article has been changed. It was wrongly stated that the 48 hour warning for Egyptians to quit was given by the GNC. It in fact came from Libya Dawn. [/restrict]
