British frigate HMS Cumberland has returned to Malta from Benghazi, bringing with her 29 persons who were evacuated from Libya including two families with young children, as well as a small SAS unit and a diplomat who had landed covertly near Benghazi in an attempt to establish contact with the provisional government there, only to be caught by rebel forces.

The unit was released yesterday, with the provisional governemnt refusing talks because of the way the unit had entered the country.

The ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Steve Dainton, said:

“This is our third evacuation journey and although the numbers are smaller, you can still see the visible relief in the faces of the passengers as they embark”.

HMS Cumberland has evacuated over 450 people from Benghazi in her three visits to the city; each time disembarking her passengers in Malta.

“The support that we have received in Malta, often at short notice, from the harbour authority, tugs, pilot, line handlers and everyone involved in the safe disembarkation of the passengers in the harbour has been absolutely fantastic. Their flexible response and can-do attitude, during what has been a really busy time, is a real credit to the island.”