Emergency Libyan airlift launched

Britain has launched an emergency airlift to help rescue thousands of refugees left stranded by the fighting in Libya amid fears of a looming humanitarian crisis.

The Government said it was sending three commercially-chartered airliners to pick up refugees packed into vast camps across the border in Tunisia without food or shelter.

The move follows an appeal by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for a mass international evacuation operation. France and Spain also announced that they were sending planes to help with the airlift.

Meanwhile, David Cameron faced the first public criticism from within his own ranks over his handling of the crisis sparked by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's attempts to crush the popular uprising against his regime.

Announcing the airlift in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister said that the Royal Navy destroyer HMS York, which has been delivering medical supplies to the rebel-held port of Benghazi, also stood ready to help with the relief operation.

The first British flights - a Thomas Cook Airbus A321 and a Titan Airways Boeing 757-200 - have arrived at Djerba airport in Tunisia where they picked up a total of 406 adults and seven children. They will be joined by a second 757-200 chartered in Italy.