A Maltese who was injured in a blast in Libya has been flown to Malta and is recovering at Mater Dei Hospital.

He suffered leg fractures when a bomb exploded close to his house, and was flown back to Malta yesterday, Mario Cutajar, head of the Civil Service, told the press today.

He also said that Maltese oil worker Martin Galea, released on Monday after 11 days of captivity in Libya, had no signs of violence. 

He said the government was still not sure who his captors were. "We never used the word abduction," Mr Cutajar said, adding that different versions of what had taken place had been given.

He reiterated that the government was prepared to handle an evacuation to Malta of workers of many nationalities.

He said that 150 foreign workers arrived yesterday. Most were Filipinos.   Another 59 are expected today on a flight from Mitiga, near Tripoli. An air ambulance is also expected to bring one or two patients from Libya.

Mr Cutajar said hundreds of Chinese were expected to arrive from Libya by sea.

He said that some 100 Maltese had chosen to stay in Libya and the Maltese embassy - which is staying open for the time being - was staying in contact with them. The government's advice was for all Maltese to leave.

The Foreign Ministry was also in contact with all the factions involved in the conflict and was not taking sides.