1st stage of evacuation from Libya successful - official

MOSCOW, February 24 (Itar-Tass) - Russia's Deputy Emergency Situations
Minister Alexander Chupriyan said the first stage of the evacuation of
Russian citizens from Libya, hit by anti-government protests, has been
successful.
Chupriyan heads the Ministry's operations group in charge of the
evacuation effort.
"The Emergency Situations Ministry's aircraft have successfully
completed the difficult rescue operation, bringing home 339 people,
including women and children.
"We did everything to ease the flight home for our citizens, and their
soonest return to the Motherland," he told reporters.
The rescue operation to evacuate citizens of Russia and other
countries from Libya continues. "At present, its second stage is underway - by sea," Chupriyan said.