China urges nationals to leave Libya  

中國駐利比亞大使館建議中國公民盡快撤離

China on Monday called on nationals to leave Libya citing the recent deteriorating security situation.

The Chinese Embassy to Libya suggested that businessmen, corporate personnels and contract workers in foreign companies to "leave Libya as soon as possible" as the rival militant clashes in Tripoli and Benghazi are escalating, according to a statement published on the embassy's website.

Many of the Chinese corporations have already suspended their operations and reduced their staff. Nearly 800 Chinese nationals have left Libya since May, according to the embassy.

Currently, there are still around 1,000 Chinese nationals staying in the country.

Libya has seen a drastic escalation of violence since the 2011 turmoil which toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The recent battle between Islamist fighters and pro-secular militias around Tripoli's international airport has killed at least 97 and wounded 404, paralyzing most of the air traffics in the North African country.

Meanwhile in the second largest city of Benghazi, armed clashes have occurred on a daily basis since renegade General Khalifa Haftar launched his so-called anti-terrorism Operation Dignity in May to constantly pound Islamist militants.

The governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Britain and the U.S. earlier this month have also told their nationals to leave Libya.