US military joins Tunisian evacuation effort out of Libya

Washington - United States marine aircraft evacuated 132 Egyptians from Tunisia Saturday, part of the overall effort to transport home hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals who have fled the violence in Libya.

Two KC-130 transport aircraft left from Djerba, Tunisia, headed for Egypt, the US State Department said. Another two US Air Force C- 130s were en route to Tunisia to help with the mission. All four planes were expected to arrive in Cairo later Saturday with homeward-bound Egyptians on board.

The US has also contributed 3 million dollars to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help people fleeing Libya find their way home to Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, officials said.

click to enlarge US Marines wait outside their Marine C-130 transport plane on the runway in Djerba Airport in Tunisia, on 5 March, as it is loaded with luggage of Egyptian nationals who fled Libya and are being repatriated to Cairo. © DPA