http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Libya-British-Special-Forces-Rescue-150-Workers-From-Libyan-Desert/Article/201102415941447?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15941447_Libya%3A_British_Special_Forces_Rescue_150_Workers_From_Libyan_Desert_Breaking News8:41pm UK, Saturday February 26, 2011
British Forces Rescue 150 Workers From Libya
British special forces have rescued 150 foreign nationals from desert locations in conflict-torn Libya, Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said.
The civilians were taken to safety by two RAF Hercules planes after being picked up from three oil installations south of the city of Benghazi.
The daring mission was carried out by members of the Special Boat Service.
Hundreds of British oil workers have been stranded at camps in Libya amid the continuing revolt against dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Both planes have since landed in Malta, the Ministry of Defence said. It is not known how many are British citizens, but they will be flown back to the UK on Sunday or Monday by chartered plane.
Glyn Jones, one of the Britons rescued by the planes, told Sky News the mood among those rescued was "jubilant".
Meanwhile, the operations of the British Embassy in Tripoli have been temporarily suspended and its staff evacuated on a Government-chartered flight, which has taken off for Gatwick with 53 British nationals on board.
A Foreign Office (FCO) spokesperson said: "In light of the deteriorating situation in Libya, and as our last FCO charter flight has now left Tripoli, we have temporarily suspended the operations of the British Embassy in Tripoli.
"Its staff left today - some of them, with our Rapid Deployment Team from Tripoli Airport, on that charter flight.
"The Turkish government will now temporarily represent British interests in Libya."
The FCO earlier said some 600 British nationals had been helped to leave Libya via planes, a Royal Navy warship and ferries.
The HMS Cumberland is now on its way back to Benghazi to pick up more people after dropping 68 Britons off in Malta, from where they were flown to Gatwick.
The destroyer HMS York has also been deployed to the area as a standby.
Many of those returning have described the chaotic scenes gripping the oil-rich nation, where anti-government protests have left as many as 1,000 people dead in the past week.
One has told of the terrifying moment he was robbed at gunpoint amid violent clashes in crisis-hit country.
Richard Weeks was among 207 people from over 20 nations, on board the naval frigate which sailed from the second city of Benghazi.
