First group of Thais leaves Tripoli

BANGKOK, July 31 (TNA) - The first group of Thai nationals, including workers, students and even officials, have left violence-plagued Tripoli, Libya's capital. Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, who is also Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, quoted the Thai Embassy in Tripoli as reporting on Thursday that about 40 Thai workers, eight Thai students and some embassy officials have already left Tripoli to Djerba of neighboring Tunisia. Sihasak said that three Thai students, however, delayed their departure for their educational concerns although officials were trying to convince them to prioritize their safety. Sihasak revealed that Director-General of his ministry's Department of Consular Affairs Thongchai Chasawath, five other officials of his ministry and two labor officials are scheduled to leave for Tunisia on Thursday night to coordinate the travels of Thai people in Tunis and Djerba, while medics will follow suit. Sihasak confirmed that the Thai Embassy in Tripoli will continue operating to facilitate the evacuation, noting that the Thai Embassy has told Thai workers to leave Libya since July 15. According to the acting foreign minister, Thai evacuees from Tripoli were set to go to Djerba, those from Benghazi to travel by sea, while evacuation by land, air and sea has also been planned. Meanwhile, the Department of Consular Affairs director-general stated that commercial planes will then carry Thai evacuees from Tunisia to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where they will later board flights of Thai Airways International (THAI), the national flag carrier, back to Thailand. (TNA)