First Group Of Evacuees From Syria Expected Home This Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- A Wisma Putra spokeswoman announced today that the first 50 Malaysians to be evacuated from Syria, due to the worsening security threat in the country, were expected to arrive home on a special flight this Tuesday.

"Further information on the process would be received latest by tonight or tomorrow morning," she told Bernama here today.

She said the Malaysian Embassy in Damascus had gathered all the Malaysian citizens at the embassy to ensure their safety.

The evacuation was being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security Council here, in cooperation with the Malaysian Embassy in Damascus, she added.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the government had decided to immediately bring home all Malaysian citizens, including students, from Syria due to the escalating unrest in the country.

As a precautionary measure, he also decided to close the Malaysian Embassy in Damascus and temporarily withdraw the Ambassador and other officials, after the evacuation exercise was completed.

A total of 138 Malaysians comprising 128 students and 10 expatriates are registered with the Embassy.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Armed Forces commander General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said they were prepared to assist in the evacuation exercise.

"The Armed Forces has received orders from the National Security Council but cannot reveal the details yet," he said.

-- BERNAMA