Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs is facing heavy criticism is response to its failed efforts to evacuate Irish citizens from Libya.
Irish who were trying to flee from Libya have said that the department advised them to book flights online or through a travel agent, even though the Internet was blocked and it was unsafe to travel to tourist agencies.
The crisis in the north African country has world powers searching for a way to stop Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi from attacking his people in the growing protests. International diplomats say some 2,000 or more people have been killed.
On Saturday, seven Irish citizens, including a family of four, had been evacuated from Libya. An Air Corps aircraft carrying the evacuees landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on a flight from Malta, according to RTE.
Efforts to evacuate the remaining Irish from Libya are continuing, but, according to David Cooney, the General Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland, communications are proving to be an obstacle.
There are 21 Irish citizens still in Tripoli and six others in other parts of the country.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Towngate | Feb 27, 2011, 01:59 PM EST
Monsoonman: You have put your finger on the story that the West is not covering. By encouuraging the 'Protesters' without knowing their leaders and plans seems very strange. I have a sneaking suspicion they think they know -but are in for a surprise! This pan-arabic unrest did not start from inside the countries...
Monsoonman | Feb 27, 2011, 12:46 PM EST
Jihadists have attacked the new leader in Tunisia...Seems these "revolutions" might have a sinister new direction.
Towngate | Feb 27, 2011, 10:12 AM EST
DARA : Dig up a decent story about why two Irish Air Corps planes landed in Tripoli and took off empty. Did they land without permission? Or didn't they bring and money for landing fees, and have to run back for some change? If the Libyans had shot them and the RAF Hurricanes down for invading their Airspace they would be ' the worst in the world' and have led to a War. 'We should be grateful they showed such wisdom and restraint.