Fears of a full-scale civil war in the North African country prompted countries from Canada to China to scramble to charter ferries and planes to secure their citizens' safety despite poor communication links and growing violence.

As the increasingly isolated Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi clung to power, Turkey evacuated upwards of 6,000 of its nationals in three days by air, sea and land in what amounted to its biggest evacuation effort ever by some accounts. Around 25,000 Turks are based in Libya, which was part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912, when Italy conquered the North African country.

The logistical challenges were especially acute for Asian countries with over 150,000 low-paid workers trapped in Libya.

Some 60,000 Bangladeshis, 30,000 Filipinos, 23,000 Thais and 18,000 Indians are among those living under Kadhafi's tottering regime.

Hundreds of American nationals and other foreigners have boarded a US-chartered ferry in Tripoli but high seas delayed their departure for Malta. Some 200 US nationals contacted the embassy seeking evacuation, the State Department spokesman said, adding that Libyan

AFP