Ankara - Turkey is to send two more ships to evacuate Turkish nationals stranded in Libya, which has seen a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters demanding the removal of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Turkey earlier sent two ferries to Libya. Officials on Tuesday said that one ship would set sail for Libya this afternoon, and the other one would leave on Wednesday.
There were around 25 000 Turkish citizens in Libya, officials said.
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched several initiatives for safety of Turkish citizens in Libya and their evacuation as unrest swept the north African country.
Hundreds of people have been killed in Libya since protests broke out across the North African nation a week ago.
In the capital, Tripoli, and cities of Benghazi, Bayda and Tobruk, people took to the streets to demonstrate against Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year reign.
Meanwhile, the South African Government has called on all parties involved in the anti-government protests in Libya to exercise restraint in order to prevent further loss of life.
Government has further called on all South Africans who are currently in Libya to maintain contact with its embassy in Tripoli. Ambassador M Dangor is coordinating consular assistance to South Africans in Libya
Family members in South Africa may contact the Department's Consular Section on 012 351-1000 for any assistance that they may require.
