Bad weather stalls US evacuation from Libya

WASHINGTON: A US-chartered ferry carrying 285 evacuees remained stuck Thursday in the port of Tripoli, the State Department said, as a bloody revolt unfolded against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi.

Rough weather kept the ferry from sailing to the island of Malta, said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley, who said those aboard were not in immediate danger but acknowledged that the situation was unpredictable and very unstable.

"These people have been on board the ship for, you know, now well over 24 hours. I'm sure they're uncomfortable. They slept last night on the ship," he told reporters.

The State Department, meanwhile, issued an urgent warning against travel to Libya by US citizens and recommended that Americans in the country leave at once "due to the potential for ongoing unrest."

The travel advisory warned that "violent clashes between protesters and security forces continue throughout Libya," and that there were "spontaneous demonstrations, violence, and looting."

The presence of Americans in the country -- an estimated 6,000 US citizens were registered at the embassy -- presented a dilemma for the US administration as it weighed how far to push the teetering Libyan government.

"Whatever steps that we do take, we want them to be effective," Crowley said. "And we certainly don't want to take any actions that put either our citizens or the citizens of other countries at risk."

Crowley told reporters that there was no immediate concern about the passengers' welfare and safety.

"We have our own security personnel on board the vessel. The port is secure," said Crowley, adding that Libyan security officials have secured the port area in Tripoli. (AFP)