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HMS Enterprise is on route to Tripoli to evacuate any British people who want to leave Libya, as Chris Mason reports
A Royal Navy survey ship is preparing to evacuate Britons from Libya amid worsening violence in the country, the BBC understands.
HMS Enterprise is on its way to Tripoli, a government source said.
The Foreign Office previously urged British people to leave the country immediately and is to temporarily close its embassy in the Libyan capital.
The MOD said the government was helping to "provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals".
'Hundreds of Britons'Libya has been gripped by instability and a power struggle among rival groups since the overthrow of former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Fighting between rival militias - one established by the outgoing parliament and one controlled by the defence ministry - has spread northwards in the capital in recent days.
More than 200 people have been killed in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi in the past two weeks.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said: "I'm told the number of British nationals in the country is not huge - it is in the hundreds, rather than the thousands. Commercial routes to leave the country are still open.
"The Foreign Office has already announced that it will suspend the operations of its embassy in Tripoli after fighting in the capital intensified, including near the embassy building itself.
"But I'm told staff at the embassy are yet to leave - as they have been supervising the evacuation of those Britons who want to leave."
'Assisted departure'British ambassador to Libya Michael Aron has described the situation as "very sad" and said staff would return to the embassy "as soon as security allows".
It is thought there are between 100 and 300 Britons still in Libya.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: "As the FCO has made clear, the UK Government will provide assisted departure for a number of UK nationals before suspending consular operations on Monday.
"For operational reasons we will not discuss further details including whether, and in what ways, the MOD could support these efforts."
The Foreign Office has said a limited number of commercial flights are still leaving Libya but warned flight schedules could change without notice.
On Wednesday, British Airways suspended flights to and from Tripoli up to and including 5 August because of the security situation at the country's main international airport.
Land routes also remain open but the Foreign Office said "the security situation can change very quickly".
Timeline: Libya after Gaddafi
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There was chaos on Friday as thousands of people including foreign nationals tried to flee across the border into Tunisia, as Rana Jawad reports
February 2011: Arrest of human rights campaigner sparks protests
March-August 2011: Rebels backed by Nato air attacks capture large parts of Libya
October 2011: Col Gaddafi is captured and killed. The main opposition group, the National Transitional Council (NTC), declares Libya officially liberated
January 2012: Clashes erupt between former rebel forces in Benghazi. Following months see continuing instability as rival militias battle for power and resources in both east and west Libya
September 2012: US ambassador is killed when armed men storm US consulate in Benghazi
November 2012: New government led by liberal figure Ali Zeidan sworn in
May 2013: Government offices besieged by militiamen
August 2013: Rebels begin months-long blockade of oil terminals
October 2013: PM Ali Zeidan briefly abducted by militiamen
November 2013: Libyan army clashes with Islamist fighters
February 2014: Protests break out after Libyan parliament refuses to disband itself after its mandate expires
March 2014: PM Ali Zeidan is sacked by parliament
June 2014: New parliament elected. Due to hold first meeting this month
Six days ago, the Foreign Office said Britons should leave Libya immediately because of growing instability and advised against all travel there.
On Friday, the Foreign Office repeated its advice for Britons to leave "due to the more intense and more widespread fighting in Tripoli, and greater instability throughout Libya".
Most western countries have now withdrawn diplomats from Libya.
Mr Aron said a temporary office would be set up in Tunisia.
Are you a British citizen living in Libya? Are you planning to leave? You can share your views and experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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