US Embassy in Lebanon to be evacuated

As the oil price hovers near US$80 a barrel, and US airstrikes in Helmand bomb a school, the US Embassy in Beirut is planning to evacuate all staff to Cyprus.

"We are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel," an embassy statement is reported by Fiox news.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said late on Friday. "Right now ... from the U.S. government perspective, there aren't any reliable ways to get out by air, land or sea." (The Embassy posts a note that reads..."The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of the trip directly handled by the U.S. Government, Americans will be asked to sign a promissory note and will be billed at a later date."

IAF airstrikes on runways and fuel depots (see pic) have closed down Beirut international airport. Israel has also imposed a naval blockade on the country and has made road travel to Damscus impossible by bombing the main highway from Beirut.

A special flight chartered by the Cyprus government arrived in Larnaca at 6.30am yesterday, carrying 102 Cypriots, six Britons, four Czechs, two French nationals and one American citizen who had been stranded in Beirut, which is under attack by Israel.

Another 20 Cypriots were yesterday due to be evacuated to Athens, along with 60 Greek nationals after the Greek government said it had chartered an Olympic Airways plane and was ready to fly it to Jordan to pick up Greek and EU nationals.

France, whith historic ties to Lebanon and 17,000 resident citizens , announced plans on Saturday to ferry French nationals to Cyprus where Air France flights would be waiting to bring them to Paris.

There is no news from the UK Embassy Beirut, on evacuatin UK nationals other than "Following the latest security developments in Lebanon, a Call Centre to provide information for British nationals has been setup in London. People concerned can call on the following number: 00 44 207 008 1500.

The British Embassy Beirut will receive phone calls from 9:00 am until 18:00 on (+961 1 990 400). After this time you are advised to contact the Call Centre in London"

WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, Germany 13/7

" .....We have obviously been in contact with representatives of the government of Israel. Secretary Rice has talked to her counterpart, Foreign Minister Livni..."

You bet. Getting her instructions....