Thousands flee Libyan strife into Tunisia

RA’AS AJADIR, Tunisia, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Thousands of foreigners have fled Libya's chaos into Tunisia but many more are trapped, international observers say.

Laurence Hart, chief of mission in Libya for the International Organization for Migration, said Friday more than 6,700 Tunisians have crossed the border at Ra'as Ajadir, along with Egyptians, Turks, Chinese and others.

But tens of thousands of sub-Saharan Africans and South Asians working in Libya cannot afford transport out of Tripoli and lack passports, he told Egypt's al-Masry al-Youm newspaper.

More than 2,000 Egyptians crossed the border Thursday night, said Malek Mayhoub, head of civil defense in Ra'as Ajadir. A local official said many complained the Egyptian Embassy in Tunis was not helping them.

Egyptair flew 600 Egyptians out Thursday.

Amnesty International said Friday it will document "shocking accounts of brutality" by security forces during the Tunisian revolt. It will issue its report, based on interviews in Tunisia, next week.

The United Nations says 147 people died in street protests against President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and another 72 died in prison incidents.