Indians in Libya safe but avoid non-essential travel

New Delhi (PTI) India on Sunday said all its
18,000 nationals in Libya are safe but issued an advisory
asking citizens to avoid non-essential travel to that country
which is being rocked by unprecedented protests against the
Moammar Gadhafi regime that reportedly left nearly 100 people
dead.
"All Indians, numbering around 18,000, are safe in Libya.
We are following the situation closely. Presently,
disturbances have mainly been reported in north-eastern region
of Benghazi, Derna, Baida and Turbuk," the official
spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
He said in view of the prevailing situation, Indian
nationals are advised to avoid non-essential travel to Libya,
for the present.
He also said the Indian embassy in Tripoli has set up a
round-the-clock control room, which can be contacted for
information and assistance.
Protesters in Libya have been demanding ouster of
Gadhafi, who has been in power for 42 years. According to
rights groups, security forces have reportedly killed nearly
100 anti-regime protesters in the last one week.