Some 10,000 Egyptians are waiting to cross the border from Libya to flee the violent uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime as the Army flew two military aircraft to Tripoli to help evacuate Egyptians after runways at Libya's Benghazi airport have been destroyed. "The army has sent extra units to ensure security along the northern frontier with Libya at the Salloum border crossing and to allow Egyptians fleeing Libya to safely return," an Armed Forces official said. He added that some 10,000 Egyptians were already at the border, waiting to cross, after 5,000 compatriots came over on Monday, pointing out that a field hospital had been set up at Salloum to deal with anyone needing urgent medical care. The dusty Bedouin town of Salloum is the first community on the Egyptian side of Mediterranean coastal road out of Libya. Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said, meanwhile, runways at Libya's Benghazi airport were destroyed in the violence that has gripped the country and passenger planes cannot land there. Libyan security cracked down on anti-government protesters and fighting has spread to the capital Tripoli after erupting in Libya's oil-producing east last week with no signs of Gaddafi stepping down after 41 years in power. Abul Gheit told Egyptians in Libya to, if possible, remain in their houses and secure themselves with enough food and water and to stay off the streets. Up to 1.5 million Egyptian nationals live in Libya. Egypt has been unable to evacuate citizens by air from the second city of Benghazi. It still awaits permission from Libyan air traffic authorities to land its planes at Tripoli airport. "Regarding east of Libya, the Benghazi airport runways have been destroyed. It is not possible for Egyptair flights or any other flights to land in that airport," Abul Gheit told reporters at a news conference in Cairo. He called on Egyptian nationals living in Libya to stay off the streets, but said those determined to leave Benghazi must travel by land in groups to reach the Egyptian border. "If Egyptians need to leave, and I always advise to stay home, then they would have to travel to Egyptian borders by land some 500 km in proximity to danger. Such trips must be in groups and in busses," Abul Gheit said. Meanwhile, EgyptAir, the national carrier, decided to flew one more flight to Tripoli's airport to help bring in Egyptians who want to be back home. "Once, EgyptAir flights get the needed licences, there will be one extra flight to Tripoli," said Hussein Massoud, the head of EgyptAir. Unrest, which deposed the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt have shaken the Arab world and inspired protests across the Middle East and North Africa, threatening the grip of long-entrenched autocratic leaders.
