Libyan Families Reunited As Aid Boat Docks In Tripoli

A Red Cross boat today docked in the Libyan capital of Tripoli carrying some 100 Libyans who had been trapped in the eastern city of Benghazi since February, when violence first broke out in the restive North African country.

A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Robin Waouda, told reporters that the ship held mostly women, elderly people, and children, all of whom were eager to be reunited with their families.

"My whole family is in Tripoli," Mohammed Saad, who was on the boat, told Reuters today. "I was on a work assignment in Benghazi and now I had a chance to come back. The situation in Benghazi is not good but average. There is some chaos with weapons."

The uprising against longtime Libyan leader Muammar Qaddhafi has plunged Libya into turmoil, prompting international intervention aimed at protecting civilians.

compiled from agency reports