BP prepares to evacuate staff from Libya

[February 21, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- BP is making preparations to evacuate some of its employees in Libya as violent unrest in the north African country spreads, the oil company said Monday.

The U.K.-based company is drawing up plans for evacuating staff "in the next couple of days," BP spokesman David Nicholas said. Unless the situation in Libya changes, it is very likely the plans will go into effect, he added.

"We are obviously monitoring the situation very closely," Nicholas said.

Anti-government violence has spread from Libyan cities such as Benghazi to the capital, Tripoli. Protesters are clashing with police and demanding the ouster of longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

BP has about 140 employees in the country, of which less than a third are expatriates, Nicholas said.

The company is in the early stages of exploration in Libya. BP's onshore drilling preparations have been suspended in light of the protests, while other activities are unaffected, Nicholas said.

[Associated Press]

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