The Indian government has sought Malta's assistance for the evacuation of most of the 18,000 Indian workers in Libya.

Some workers have already been evacuated on a ship from Benghazi and taken to Alexandria, Egypt, but India would now like to focus its operation through Malta.

The Indian effort is being coordinated by Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

India is to charter additional ships to carry the workers from Libya and has already deployed a number of aircraft for the operation.

The Indian Navy troop carrier Jalashwa and the destroyer Mysore are also heading for the Mediterranean.

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