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British Embassy Withdraws Staff In Libya

2 U.S. Military Units On Standby To Help With Deteriorating Security Situation

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reports two U.S. military units are on standby to help with a ‘deteriorating security situation’ in the Libyan capital.

JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Hi, Jon. Fox News has learned that the U.S. military has alerted two military units based in Europe to be on standby if needed to help with the deteriorating security situation in the Libyan capital. A specialized marine unit based in Spain is in the process of being repositioned, we're told, and a response force made up of special operators in Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, has been put on heightened alert. U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about a deteriorating situation in Tripoli where armed militias have taken over certain government ministries in the last two weeks.

Reuters reports:

The British embassy is temporarily withdrawing some of its staff from Libya over concerns about political uncertainty and the risk of clashes between rival armed groups in the capital, it said on its website.

"Given the security implications of the ongoing political uncertainty, the British Embassy is temporarily withdrawing a small number of staff," the statement said, and added that the embassy would continue to operate as usual.

A British security source told Reuters only non-essential staff were affected.

Published under: Middle East , Video