Britons returning safe from Libya speak of chaos, living hell

LONDON - A total of 79 Britons and Canadians have landed at the Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on a government-chartered plane, escaping the massive uprising in Tripoli against the authoritarian Muammar Gaddafi regime.

The Passengers on board Flight YU005 have expressed relief after returning to their country and gave a detailed account of the situation back in Libya.

One of them said that he had witnessed chaotic scenes at Tripoli airport as people tried to flee, adding: “There are so many people wanting to leave and Tripoli airport is simply not catered for it.”

“There were people camping out, making makeshift tents. They had bags strewn all over the place. There was no system. It was so overwhelming for the Libyan authorities. They just cannot cope. There were women, children, old people. It was terrible getting into the airport. It took us four hours despite the fact that the British Embassy staff were there,” The Independent quoted him, as saying.

He further said that he had heard sounds of gunshots on the previous night, and had seen apparent Gaddafi’s loyalists guarding the airport.

“The streets are quite deserted though. It gives quite an eerie feeling. Where I was staying in a compound, there was bustling activity but this morning there was not a soul to be seen,” the passenger added.

Another passenger said that the prevailing situation in Libya has affected the communication system in that country.

“The phones in the main consular office were not working and that was the main criticism because it meant not being able to contact them and find out when flights were leaving,” he added. (ANI)