Plane with evacuees from Libya arrives in Budapest

An aircraft operated by MALÉV Hungarian Airlines transporting 96 evacuees (Hungarians and other nationals) from Libya touched down safely at Ferihegy international airport in Budapest shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday evening.

Foreign Minister János Martonyi and Defence Minister Csaba Hende were on hand to welcome the passengers that included 24 Hungarians and nationals from ten other countries - mostly central and eastern Europeans.

Martonyi said it was thought that several Hungarians decided to stay in Libya.

"We expected 20 more Hungarians to return home, but they decided for themselves not to report to the [Tripoli] airport for reasons unknown," he said.

Hungary does not plan any additional evacuation operation, Martonyi said, adding that those Hungarians who wanted to leave the country had done so.

Martonyi said it was "symbolic" that fellow citizens of ten European countries had been brought home, including nationals from Romania, Lithuania, Poland and the Czech Republic, the Czech ambassador among them.

On the subject that a person of Hungarian origin is reported to have been kidnapped in Libya, Martonyi said that the Hungarian Foreign Ministry and authorities concerned were handling the issue. He added that the staff at the Hungarian Embassy in Tripoli would make all possible efforts to clarify the matter.