Indian worker killed in Libya

Thiruvananthapuram: A Keralite working in a private company in the Libyan capital of Tripoli was killed when a shell fired by rebel forces fell near him as he was returning to his accommodation from work on Sunday, according to information received by his family members.

Solomon Daniel (59) of Nooranad in Alappuzha district, was planning to return home from the strife-torn country, his relatives said, adding that the family members were informed of his death by his colleagues on Sunday.

Solomon had been working in private companies in Libya for about 10 years. He had called his family two days ago and told them that he would be reaching home within a week.

Meanwhile, the first batch of over 50 nurses from Kerala are expected to reach home on Tuesday. They reached Tunis by road from Libya two days ago and were expected to be flown home from there.

Meanwhile, the exodus of foreigners from Libya gathered pace on Sunday. The government said that at least 22 people had been killed in clashes in Tripoli and warned of a “worsening humanitarian situation”.

Thousands of Egyptians seeking to flee the Libya were being airlifted home after being allowed into neighbouring Tunisia, many after a wait of several days at a border crossing.

And a British navy ship was evacuating Britons from Tripoli, the defence ministry in London said.

On the political front, a formal opening session of Libya’s elected parliament scheduled for Monday hung in the balance, with Islamists insisting on a Tripoli venue and nationalists calling for it to be held in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Tripoli airport has been closed and several aircraft destroyed or damaged in the clashes between rival militias.

The unrest is seen as a struggle for influence, both between regions and political factions, with authorities failing to control the dozens of militias in the absence of a structured regular army and police force.