India on plans to evacuate Indians in Libya

India, which has deplored the use of force in Libya and called it unacceptable, is working out means to evacuate its nationals caught in the trouble-torn north African country.

About 18,000 Indians are living and working in Libya hit by protests against Colonel Muammar el-Gaddafi’s rule.

Arrangements for air and sea evacuation of Indians from Libya are being worked out, said foreign secretary Nirupama Rao.

While India has sought permission of the Libyan government to allow landing of planes for evacuation, a second option is to evacuate through sea route.

India is yet to receive any response from Libya on permission for landing of planes, so private ships might be used to carry Indians.

Indians may be evacuated by ship from Tripoli and Benghazi and taken to Egypt’s Alexandria for transporting them back to India by air.

Meanwhile, India has deplored use of force in Libya.

In a statement, India’s external affairs ministry said: “The Government of India has been following, with serious concern, the developments in Libya, leading to loss of numerous lives and injuries to many more.”

India said it “deplores the use of force which is totally unacceptable and must not be resorted to. It is earnestly hoped that calm is restored at the earliest without any further violence.”

The Ministry and the Embassy of India in Tripoli are closely monitoring the situation and are in regular touch with representatives of the Indian community.

“Necessary measures, as warranted by the situation, would be taken by the Government to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian nationals,” the statement said.

Defiant Gaddafi on Tuesday said he is not going to step down from his position and urged his followers to take to the streets and free it from those who are protesting against him.

In an address made through the state run television, Gaddafi said: ?I am not a president who will step down and this is my country.?

In his major address since the protests began against him last week, Gaddafi read out from the constitution and said that ?enemies of Libya? would be executed.

“I have still not ordered the use of force or even I have not given an order to fire a single bullet but when I do, everything will burn,? he said.

He also urged his followers to get down into the streets of Libya and attack those protesters who are voicing against him.

Nearly 300 people are reported to have been killed in the capital and across the nation as the anti-government uprising entered second week, media reports said.