Libya live blog February 26

Reporting by Karl Stagno-Navarra, Matthew Vella, Miriam Dalli and Nestor Laiviera.

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February 25 live blog
February 24 live blog
February 23 live blog
February 22 live blog

19:32 Al Jazeera has now reported statement by UK defence ministry that 150 oil workers have been extracted by the RAF in the Libyan desert. Here's the             full story from the BBC.

19:15 The UK's Guardian suggests that the RAF's Chinooks and Hercules stationed at Luqa will be used to rescue 170 British oil workers stranded in remote desert oilfields of Libya. "Known as the army's airborne workhorse, and currently performing with distinction in Afghanistan, any rescue mission from the Libyan desert will push the Chinook's capabilities to its limit. A return trip from Malta to some of the most remote oilfields could constitute a 1,200-mile return trip, just about within the helicopter's range.

"The Chinook is able to carry a maximum payload of 55 troops, although the weight of fuel required may lessen the capacity and it is likely that to collect all the remaining oil workers would require several trips. A full complement of RAF gunners manning two M134 miniguns and an M60 machine gun would be a necessity on such a potentially perilous undertaking.

"In addition, a number of ground troops – possibly paras or special forces – would be likely to be on board in case any rescue attempt encountered armed resistance.

"At those desert compounds that lack a runway, the rapid airlift provided by a Chinook is considered ideal for a "hard extraction" – hasty withdrawal, in military parlance. Rapid air drops using Chinooks are a regular feature of clandestine operations by special forces units in Helmand province. Another plus would be their ability to pick up small numbers of oil workers from several isolated compounds during one flight.

"Any airborne mission will certainly be a lengthy operation lasting many hours. Back-up to the Chinooks might be provided by Hercules C-130 transport aircraft, two of which are also stationed in Malta. Their ability to land and take off from relatively short runways, combined with a long range and the ability to carry up to 128 passengers, will also appear attractive to the commanders plotting the rescue."

18:37 The UN Security Council has begun urgent deliberations to consider imposing sanctions against Libya for violent attacks against protesters. The sanctions under consideration at Saturday's session include an arms embargo against the Libyan government and a travel ban and asset freeze against Gaddafi, his relatives and key regime members.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging council members to take concrete action to protect civilians in Libya where some estimates indicate more than 1,000 people have been killed in less than two weeks.

18:29 Mercenaries have opened fire on protesters in Misrata, about 200km (125 miles) east of Tripoli, al-Arabiya TV reported in a screen caption a few minutes ago.

18:16 The al-Khuweildi al-Humaidi battalion opened fire in an area along a strip on the Mediterranean cost between the cities of Sabratha and Surman, the online version of Quryna reported, quoting its correspondent there, Reuters says. It did not specify the circumstances of the shooting and who the victims were.

17:26 More military asset movements in surrounding region: The Netherlands Royal Navy NRN277, a Westland SH-14D Lynx helicopter, is headed for the Dutch vessel Tromp, which arrived last Thursday near Libya. Another Hercules from the RAF is landing imminently.

17:02 Another C-130 Lockheed Hercules ASCOT 5586 now inbound Malta; also Romanian RoAF 110 heard. A USAF (US air force) C-21A - a military Lear Jet - is doing some practice touch and go on Luqa runway.

And more fuel for the Libya region USAF KC-10A tail nr 84-0192 c/s RCH154 (Reach) inbound Malta FL200

16:53 Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has extend his gratitude to the Maltese government for its assistance in the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Libya.

“With the rapid deterioration of situation in Libya in the last few days, the safety of more than 35,000 Chinese citizens living and working in Libya is at serious and present danger which worries the Chinese government and people,” Jiabao said in a letter sent through his ambassador in Malta.

“The Chinese government and people are deeply touched by the understanding of your government to our situation and lending a helping-hand in this crucial moment. It embodies the friendship between Maltese and Chinese people as well as our two governments.”

16:46 The Maltese government is insisting for those Maltese who are still in Tripoli to catch the ferries leaving today as the situation might be verging to the critical. There are 52 Maltese spread around Libya which government knows about - 23 are in Tripoli and 11 are waiting to board the Virtu ferry.

Government is also attempting to make contact with Maltese working on offshore oil rigs. More Chinese-chartered ships, such as the Grimaldi lines vessels, will be collecting more Chinese nationals from Misurata.

15:26 Moviment Graffitti calls on the Maltese government to condemn the Gaddafi regime.

15:20 Home Affairs minister Carm Mifsud says Malta is bracing itself for a surge in migrant arrivals.

14:36 The Maltese government has formally issued a recommendation to all Maltese nationals in Libya to evacuate the country by tonight on the Virtù ferries’ catamaran that will make a last journey to and from Tripoli.

“Maltese are being asked to make the crossing today,” the foreign ministry said.

Maltese employees of the Corinthia Group are understood to may be still in Tripoli. The group operates a hotel north of the capital city in Ghammarth.

Relatives can contact the Malta call centre on 80072203 or via email on [email protected]

13:58 From Feb17voices LPC woman in Tripoli: "We are afraid. Every house is only armed with knives."

Listen!

13:46 People in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, are braced for further battles after Muammar Gaddafi said he would open weapons depots to arm his supporters. The AP news agency says it has been told Col Gaddafi's government is arming civilian supporters to set up checkpoints in Tripoli and quash dissent.

Residents who spoke to AP by phone on Saturday reported trucks of pro-Gaddafi civilians patrolling the streets. At the same time, Libyan state TV showed Col Gaddafi speaking from Tripoli's old city ramparts. "We shall destroy any aggression with popular will," he said. "With the armed people, when necessary we will open the weapons depots. So that all the Libyan people, all the Libyan tribes can be armed. Libya will become a red flame, a burning coal."

11:33 Prime Minister tells Radio 101 listener that tourism may be affected from growing unrest in region. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has assured listeners on Radio 101 that Malta was not in danger from the unrest in Libya, but warned that the island would encounter economic problems from growing problems around the region.

09:38 The US has announced sanctions against the Libyan government, as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the body's Security Council to take "decisive action" over the Libya crisis. US President Barack Obama signed an executive order blocking property and transactions related to the country. Transactions involving assets of Muammar Gaddafi and some close associates were blocked.

06:00 A Royal Navy frigate carrying around 200 evacuees from Libya, including 60 British nationals, has arrived in Malta.