Air corps prepare to evacuate Irish from Libya

Two air corps aircraft are on standby in Malta to evacuate around 40 Irish citizens from nearby Libya.

The planes with nine personnel left last night as the situation in the North African country became increasingly volatile.

Colonel Gaddafi has vowed to die a martyr, and stepped up his fight against democracy protests.

The United Nations has condemned the violence in Libya and said those responsible must be held to account.

There are fears up to 400 people have died in the latest onslaught of military airstrikes.