A Maltese doctor who returned to Malta on a ferry from Libya said today that he had treated two men who were shot for not slowing down at a checkpoint but he otherwise did not see many signs of the current violence.

“All I saw was two cases of gunshot wounds... They were two men who rushed through a checkpoint... but both men were fine,” Joseph Galea told journalists soon after stepping off the German-chartered, Express Santorini.

Dr Galea was the only Maltese on board the ferry. He had been working in Libya for 14 years and was “not in a hurry to return”.

He boarded the ferry from the northern Libyan port of Ras Lanuf where he was based.

Dr Galea did not wish to pass sensitive comments that could affect the wellbeing of those still in Libya but added that he was impressed by the help he received by the Maltese authorities.

The Santorini also brought with it evacuees of various nationalities including Germans, Serbians, Croatians and Filipinos. Aboard there were also 15 UK nationals who were greeted by Prince Edward, Duke of Kent on their arrival.

The duke happened to be in Malta for an official visit that had been planned before the Libya protests started. He was in Malta as the president of the Commonwealth war graves’ commission.

Just over 12,000 workers had been evacuated to Malta up to late yesterday, and flights are coming in rapid succession at MIA to fly them home.

Most workers are staying on their ships until the aircraft arrive.

A Virtu’ Ferries catamaran is currently in Tripoli waiting to depart on its fourth trip from the Libyan capital. Another catamaran may cross over to the port of Misurata if it is safe and weather conditions allow.

The British frigate Cumberland has returned to Benghazi from Malta on its third trip.