10,000 fled Libya into Tunisia

Thousands of expatriate Egyptians, Indians, Turks and Tunisians crossed the border into Tunisia on Friday, and many of them appeared to be in shock. They carried their belongings and horrific memories of the violence tearing apart Muammar Gaddafi's Libya. -- PHOTO: AP

RAS JEDIR (Tunisia) - MORE than 10,000 people fled Libya into Tunisia at the Ras Jedir post on Saturday, most of them Egyptians, the Red Crescent said on Sunday, calling it a 'humanitarian crisis'.

'More than 10,000 people passed through Ras Jedir yesterday,' the organisation's regional president in Ben Guerdane, the main border town, Monji Slim said.

More than 40,000 have come through this border post in the past week, including more than 15,000 Egyptians. The flood of arrivals was continuing Sunday.

'It is a humanitarian crisis, our capacities to take in people are exhausted, people are sleeping in the open. I appeal urgently for everyone to help resolve this problem. The entire world should mobilise to help Egypt repatriate its nationals,' Monji Slim added.

The exodus from Libya, where leader Muammar Gaddafi is battling for survival, began on Feb 20.

The situation has worsened all week, particularly after Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam on Monday accused Arab and African expatriates of fomenting the revolt against his father and accused Egyptians and Tunisians of being behind the conspiracy. -- AFP