Belgium Embassy Staff Ordered Out of Libya

French nationals arrive from Libya in Charles De Gaulle airport, in Roissy, near Paris, France, 23 February 2011, after having been evacuated by means of two French military airplanes. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Belgium will shutdown its embassy in Libyan capital Tripoli on Monday, temporarily discontinuing diplomatic activities in the troubled north African country, the foreign ministry said.

"I gave instructions last night for our staff to prepare themselves," Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere said on RTBF television Sunday.

Diplomats would warn the roughly 30 Belgians in the country that they would not have access to Belgian diplomatic assistance from Monday, he said.

Britain, France and the United States are among the countries that have already temporarily shut their embassies in Tripoli and evacuated their staff amid growing unrest over demands for long-time ruler Muammar Qaddafi to quit.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also ordered Australian embassy staff in Libya to leave and imposed sanctions against Colonel Gaddafi.

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