Three charter planes and two British ships are to evacuate Britons trapped by the unrest in Libya that threatens to oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
The Foreign Office planes along with a Royal Navy frigate and a British warship - HMS Cumberland - are headed for the country's capital, Tripoli.
A team of six UK officials has arrived at the city's airport to help identify British citizens who want to leave Libya.
They have already linked up with eight British embassy workers.
At least 122 Britons have registered for the Foreign Office charter flights.
Communications are apparently impossible in the airport but a reception area for Britons has been set up outside of the terminal. Sources said the airport was very busy and there was a lot of chanting and shouting but the airport has remained peaceful. Meanwhile at Gatwick Airport a technical fault has delayed the first flight due to take off from the UK. Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said it was being fixed and that a second plane was leaving this evening and a third would leave tomorrow. Another FCO spokesperson said: "Our embassy is already in contact with around 300 British Nationals in and around Tripoli and giving instructions on how to catch the flight. "A consular team from the embassy is already on the ground at Tripoli airport and is in place to assist British Nationals. "They will be reinforced by two specialist consular teams. One team has already arrived. Another is on the charter plane from Gatwick."The charter plane will be bringing supplies of food and water for British Nationals at the airport.":: British citizens who want to book on one of the foreign office charter flights are urged to call 0207 008 0000 or 021 340 3644/45 from Libya.:: British Airways, BMI and Emirates - the Middle East's largest airline - have cancelled flights to and from the Libyan capital, Tripoli.Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Government would send out "as many planes as necessary" to bring Britons home from Libya.
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