European Union President Herman Van Rompuy is discussing with EU leaders the possibility of holding an emergency meeting on the ongoing atrocities in Libya, a spokesman for the EU president said on Tuesday.
On Monday, France and Great Britain asked Van Rompuy to hold an extraordinary meeting, following EU sanctions against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family for his violent suppression of protests.
Van Rompuy has not made a decision on the meeting yet, the spokesman said, adding that it could take place on March 4.
The international community has strongly condemned Libyan authorities, who killed up to 2,000 people in clashes between protesters and pro-Gaddafi forces since an uprising began on February 15. Inspired by recent revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans are demanding an end to Gaddafi's 42-year authoritarian rule.
Foreign countries and companies are continuing the evacuation of their citizens and employees from Libya.
On Monday, a ferry with 397 people on board, including 126 Russians departed from the northern Libyan port of Ras Lanuf, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.
The ferry is to take its passengers to Malta, from where Russians will be flown to Moscow on two planes from the Emergencies Ministry.
Russia previously evacuated 341of its citizens from the riot-hit North African country by plane. Besides Russian nationals evacuated from Libya over the last few days, Russia has also evacuated a total of 510 citizens of Serbia, Thailand, Uzbekistan and a dozen other countries.
BRUSSLS, March 1 (RIA Novosti)
