Malta, which still has 98 nationals stranded in Libya, has so far sat on an official request by Tripoli to return two fighter jets that landed here on Monday after their pilots defected, according to government sources.
The request was made soon after two Libyan air force colonels disobeyed orders to shoot on civilians and instead flew their planes to Malta.
“No decision has yet been taken on the future of the jets,” the sources said.
The two Mirage F1 fighter jets are being kept at the airport guarded by Armed Forces of Malta personnel. The colonels have asked for political asylum and are being detained according to immigration laws until their request is processed.
The situation in Libya deteriorated further yesterday as protesters clashed with pro-government security forces in the town of Az Zawiyah to the west of Tripoli, previously untouched by unrest.
As the situation becomes ever more dramatic, official estimates show there are about 98 Maltese nationals still in Libya longing to get back home. No contact has yet been made with another 40 based in various parts of the country.
There was good and bad news for nine Maltese nationals stranded on an oil rig in the Libyan desert. The sources said the Libyan authorities gave permission for a private jet to fly into the country and pick them up but the evacuation could not happen yesterday because of a sandstorm.
In a televised phone message, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi blamed Osama Bin Laden for poisoning the minds of Libyan youth with drugs. Addressing residents of Az Zawiyah, Col Gaddafi said parents and family members had the duty to pull their children off the streets.
Malta continued to act as a transit point for evacuees with an estimated 1,000 people having passed through Malta International Airport since Monday.
About 40 Maltese nationals boarded two Air Malta flights out of Tripoli yesterday and another 13 stranded in Benghazi were taken on a Chinese chartered ship that will take them to Crete. Three Maltese were repatriated on a British military Hercules transport aircraft, which was carrying UK nationals.
A third Air Malta flight in the evening was cancelled after the Libyan authorities closed Tripoli airport. It was unclear whether the closure was temporary – as had happened on previous occasions – to clear congestion or of a more permanent nature.
Foreign airlines have since Monday operated 41 flights from Tripoli airport to Malta.
The bad weather yesterday prevented the US-chartered Virtù Ferries catamaran carrying about 600 people from leaving Tripoli. It is expected to leave this morning, weather permitting.
The UK’s navy frigate, HMS Cumberland, carrying British evacuees and other nationals is also expected to berth in Malta today after taking on people from Benghazi.
Hundreds of workers are expected to be brought to Malta on ships once sea conditions improve.
The sources said the government was making arrangements with hotels and preparing to set up tents at Valletta port to temporarily accommodate an influx of foreign workers arriving by sea.
A Brazilian company that employs about 3,000 workers in Libya has indicated its intention of using Malta as a transit location to evacuate its employees.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com