Turkey suspends diplomatic mission in Libya over security concerns

The Turkish foreign ministry announced on Friday that it has suspended its diplomatic mission in the Libyan capital Tripoli for security reasons. More than 500 Turkish nationals left Libya on Thursday via the border with Tunisia by specially arranged buses.

A ministry statement pointed out that it had issued an alert for Turkish citizens to leave the country due to the intensification of clashes in the vicinity of Tripoli airport. Turkish nationals were told to leave via the land crossing with Tunisia and then proceed to Turkey.

The Turkish consulate in Misrata will continue to operate to serve those Turks who chose to stay in the country. The primary team of the Tripoli mission will work from Tunisia until the stabilisation of the situation in Libya, the statement added.