Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Tuesday that Libyan authorities allowed two Egyptian armed forces planes to land and carry Egyptian nationals.
The state news agency MENA cited Aboul Gheit saying that Egypt Air will send at least four aircraft to evacuate its citizens from Libya to Egypt. The Egyptian foreign minister said that he was shocked after Seif El Islam Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan President, who accused Egyptians elements that are trying to bring down the regime in Libya.
Aboul Gheit declared Libya responsible for the safety of its citizens as they are in danger after Seif's speech. "We know there are 1 million to 1.5 million Egyptians in Libya, therefore, we recommend our citizens that you stay in your homes, stay off the streets, secure yourselves with water and food," said Aboul Gheit. Aboul Gheit said that the Egyptian authorities are aware that two Egyptians died in the Libyan turmoil. Protestors began to go on streets in Libya on Wednesday, calling for an end to Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year-old rule, in an apparent attempt to emulate recent protests in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, which forced the leaders of both countries to quit. Appearing on Libya state television early on Monday morning, Seif threatened that protests against his father's rule might sink Libya into civil war and split the country up into several small states. He added "We fight to the last minute, until the last bullet."