20/07/2006

First evacuees touch down in the UK

The first plane has arrived in the UK carrying Britons who fled from Lebanon.

80 evacuees landed at Gatwick Airport at around 1.30am, and they spoke of their joy of being back on British soil.

Elise Mazegi, 32, who was staying with her sister in Beirut, said: "I'm just relieved to be home. It has been very tiring. I'm looking forward to a reunion with my husband.

"It was a really well organised evacuation, and everybody was really helpful."

Six Royal Navy ships, as well as the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, will also take part in the massive evacuation to bring up to 5,00 Britons to safety in Cyprus.

HMS Gloucester has taken 830 people from Lebanon to the port of Limassol, and HMS York has brought 330 evacuees from Beirut. (CD)


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