Seven Irish to arrive home from Libya

The Air Corps has evacuated seven Irish citizens from Libya as tensions over Colonel Gaddafi's rule heighten.

The passengers were evacuated from Libya to Malta by sea and are due to arrive back in Ireland just before midday by plane.

The operation was co-ordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has meanwhile urged Security Council members - including Britain, France and the US - to take concrete action against Libya.

The Security Council met in New York last night to discuss the situation. It drafted a resolution which calls for an arms embargo and travel bans.