Lebanon: Confused British priorities
Royal Navy warships were standing by to begin the mass evacuation of up to 22,000 British nationals from war-torn Lebanon.
Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted the Government was acting "as quickly as we possibly can" amid complaints that other European countries were moving more swiftly to rescue their citizens.
The first party of around 100 was expected to leave by sea on HMS Gloucester - one of two Type 42 destroyers stationed off the Lebanese coast.
Four more Royal Navy ships were on their way to the area, including the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and the commando assault ship HMS Bulwark.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said it was possible there could be further "limited" airlifts following the evacuation yesterday of 60 of the most urgent cases by helicopter.
But she said the main focus now was evacuation by sea, with the British nationals being taken initially to Cyprus.
"Our priority from the beginning is to do this safely," she told reporters following talks in London with Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul Read more
db: "Our priority .... is to do this safely". Just how does that fit with blocking a ceasefire?
Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted the Government was acting "as quickly as we possibly can" amid complaints that other European countries were moving more swiftly to rescue their citizens.
The first party of around 100 was expected to leave by sea on HMS Gloucester - one of two Type 42 destroyers stationed off the Lebanese coast.
Four more Royal Navy ships were on their way to the area, including the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and the commando assault ship HMS Bulwark.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said it was possible there could be further "limited" airlifts following the evacuation yesterday of 60 of the most urgent cases by helicopter.
But she said the main focus now was evacuation by sea, with the British nationals being taken initially to Cyprus.
"Our priority from the beginning is to do this safely," she told reporters following talks in London with Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul Read more
db: "Our priority .... is to do this safely". Just how does that fit with blocking a ceasefire?
posted by exoplanet at 3:36 PM
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