Niger says 1,500 of its citizens have fled Libya
NIAMEY — The government of the west central African state of Niger said Tuesday that about 1,500 of its citizens had fled neighbouring Libya, where the regime of Moamer Kadhafi faces a popular revolt.
"More than 1,500 of our nationals have arrived and are safe in Dirkou", a town near the border with Libya, it said in a statement read on state radio.
Most of the Niger citizens had made their own way out of Libya, a security source in Dirkou told AFP by telephone.
The governnment in Niamey said it had contacted its embassy in Tripoli to "suggest evacuation options as soon as possible."
Several thousand Niger citizens live in Libya, most of them illegal workers.
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