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By Ashraf Abdul Wahab.
Tripoli, 7 October:
The Egyptian embassy has started to evacuate Egyptian citizens from the besieged town of Bani Walid. . . .[restrict] It is estimated that there are over a thousand living and working there.
On Friday, according to an embassy spokesman, three buses headed to Wadi Mardoum, beyond the front line at Bir Dufan, to pick up Egyptians following negotiations between the ambassador, Hisham Abdul Wahab, and Bani Walid officials. He was given an assurance that no Egyptians would be prevented from leaving the town.
However, the buses were not allowed past Zliten because of the security situation.
On Saturday, two coaches managed to bring a number of Egyptians from Wadi Mardoum. There were plans to send another ten coaches today, Sunday, to pick up more of them but so far it is not known if it happened. The embassy was not available for comment.
The Egyptians are being temporarily moved to Tripoli as well as Tarhouna.
According to the embassy, there have been constant contacts with Libyan officials on the position of Egyptians in Bani Walid and the Mardoum area. Despite the situation, they say all their compatriots are well.
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