U.K., U.S., European countries work to vacate nationals from Lebanon

[Violet_Crumble]

Britain is making contingency plans to protect its interests in the Middle East as Israel's military offensive against Lebanon continues, officials said Saturday.

The United States is working on its own plan to evacuate American citizens from Lebanon to the neighboring island of Cyprus, the U.S. Embassy said Saturday.

A British Ministry of Defense spokeswoman refused to comment on a report by Sky Television that the aircraft carrier Illustrious is being prepared to sail to the Lebanese coast, possibly to evacuate British citizens.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/738700.html

and

Australians wait for evacuation call

Australians stranded in strife-torn Beirut are waiting for the federal government to act on an emergency plan to evacuate them by ferry to Cyprus.

A handful of Australians who managed to flee Lebanon amid Israeli military attacks flew into Sydney last night to the relief of their families, with more expected to touch down late tonight.

But others, including the members of a Sydney dance troupe, remain stuck in Beirut as the region descends into full-scale war, sparked by the Hezbollah kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/australians-wait-for-evacuation-call/2006/07/16/1152988398836.html

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Another scenario..... the leadership in Israel informs the U.S.

and G.B. to get their people the hell out a week in advance, cuz the gloves are coming off. Just a thought.

[dipsydoodle]

2. According to Sky TV news

Illustrious has already set sail.

Never did figure exactly where the sails are on an aircraft carrier - - they're a bit bigger than the Victory or the Cutty Sark. :)

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Have you heard anything about any British citizens not allowed to leave?

There's three Australian guys trying to leave Lebanon who because of their joint Australian-Lebanese citizenship are being told by Lebanon that they're not allowed to leave as they'll be conscripted into the Lebanese military. I was just reading an article where one said he only went to Lebanon for a two-week holiday and can't read or speak a word of Arabic and all he wants to do is come home.....

[dipsydoodle]

6. You don't need a war for that to happen.

My younger brother was born in Austria just after the war while the family was out there from the UK - Army in occupation. He would have been called up for national service if he'd gone there when he was 21 due to dual nationality !

[dipsydoodle]

4. Nope.

Was just channel flicking inbetween doing a weeding in the garden. No mention was made of what you said. I'll keep an eye open since you've mentioned it. I'd doubt the the Lebanese would do that anyway - we got a large Lebanese population in the UK as you may already know.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Yeah, it seemed a bit weird to me...

If someone had solely Lebanese citizenship, I could see where there might be a problem, but not dual citizenship...

Enjoy the weeding :)