MOZAMBICANS IN LIBYA UNHARMED

Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloi told reporters in Maputo on Wednesday that the seven Mozambican students in Libya are safe, and are apparently in no danger, despite the popular uprising and government repression under way.The seven students are all living on a university campus which is a long way from any of the violence, said Baloi.The students are understandably scared since they can hear gunfire. Nonetheless they are personally safe and in good health.Baloi said the Mozambican ambassador to Egypt, who is also accredited to Libya, is in permanent contact with the students, and sends information on their situation to the Foreign Ministry in Maputo on a daily basis.“Just as happened in Egypt, we are preparing all the conditions so that, if we have to evacuate them, we can do so, guaranteeing the best possible security conditions”, added Baloi.Libya is the latest authoritarian regime in north Africa to come under popular pressure, after mass uprisings toppled the regimes of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Although most of the east of the country is now under the control of the opposition, and diplomats, generals and even ministers have defected, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi shows no sign of resigning, and has even threatened to fight on to the last drop of Libyan blood.