HMS Cumberland has arrived in the Libyan port of Benghazi to evacuate stranded Britons.
The frigate, which broke off her return journey at the end of a six-month deployment east of Suez, is preparing to embark upwards of 100 Britons trapped in Libya's second city as the North African state descends into anarchy.
An estimated 50-100 British citizens are believed to be stuck in the east of the country, where Libyans have thrown off the shackles off Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.
Cumberland arrived off the port this morning as the British Government sought permission for her to enter harbour. That was given and shortly after mid-day UK time the frigate arrived in Benghazi.
The Foreign Office has been encouraging Britons in eastern Libya to make for the port. Cumberland will take what citizens it can and sail for Valetta in Malta.
Although RAF Hercules and civilian charter planes have been dispatched to the Libyan capital Tripoli, no such option was available in Benghazi's case: the runways are believed to have been damaged during fighting between rebel and government forces.
Aside from the 100 Britons reckoned to be in Benghazi, a similar number are believed to be scattered across sites and towns in the Western Desert.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Government was "taking every action to get the remaining British nationals in Libya out of harm's way". Those Britons were, said Mr Hague, "in a perilous and frightening situation".
Around five dozen civilians (and one dog) were picked up from Tripoli by the RAF and are heading for Malta as part of the evacuation measures.
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