British travellers in Libya have been told to take precautions amid clashes between pro and anti government demonstrators.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned of a third day of demonstrations today (Thursday). Clashes between protestors and security forces in Benghazi started late at night on Tuesday with reports of a number of casualties.
There are unconfirmed reports of protests in other Libyan cities. Pro-government demonstrations took place across Libya yesterday. There have been calls for further demonstrations today by both opposition and pro-government groups.
The FCO said: “You should take precautions for your personal safety and avoid political gatherings and demonstrations. You should follow news reports and be alert to developments in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa that might trigger public disturbances. British organisations in Libya should keep their contingency plans up-to-date.”
In mid January, a large number of mostly empty buildings across the country were occupied by Libyans protesting about the provision of affordable accommodation. These occupations were followed by a significant number of arrests and some demonstrations, particularly in the east of the country.
Middle East and North Africa minister Alistair Burt said: “We are watching events in Libya closely. We are concerned by reports of the arrest of Libyans who have called for demonstrations or spoken to the media and of violent incidents during demonstrations in Benghazi on February 16.
“I call on the Libyan Government to respect the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and on all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from violence. I also welcome recent Libyan government efforts to promote reconciliation, including the announcement today to release a further 110 former members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.”