RAF Hercules lands in Libya 24.02.11
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An RAF Hercules has landed in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to aid the evacuation of British nationals from the crisis hit country. A Government official has confirmed the C130, which has flown in from Malta, is one of two planes that had been on standby to boost capacity being provided by a number of charter planes. It is reported the plane has now taken off, with over 70 British people on board. Meanwhile, a contingent of British Special Forces personnel are said to have been put on short-notice, in case they are required to help stranded British citizens. It is reported they are backed up by paratroopers at the Special Forces Support Group. The exact numbers and locations of any staging areas are being kept secret, but there are particular concerns about about oil workers who cannot leave sites in the desert. The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, convened a meeting of COBRA, the UK emergency committee, alongside the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, to discuss the situation in Libya. The British Government has faced intense criticism over its rescue operation, which was hampered yesterday when its first chartered rescue flight broke down at Gatwick was delayed for 10 hours. Elsewhere, the Royal Navy frigate HMS Cumberland is said to be on its way to the Libyan coast, to evacuate the approximately 70 Britons are in the Benghazi area of the country.