Covert SAS operation began after David Cameron warned UK citizens to leave while they still can.

covert SAS operation began after David Cameron warned UK citizens to leave while they still can.

The Prime Minister signalled that the estimated 500 left in Libya had just 48 hours to escape.

HMS Cumberland, which has already sailed from Libya with British citizens escaping the country is set to return from Malta to take more people to safety.

The last rescue flight set off for Tripoli today to bring back British people still trapped in the Libyan capital. The  flight left Gatwick and is expected back tonight.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was 'very important' for anyone still caught up in the violent chaos to get on board if possible - as some of those landing back in the UK last night described the violence as a 'living hell'.

Mr Hague also insisted that 'a lot of work' was under way on plans to extract up to 170 UK oil workers stranded in remote and highly vulnerable desert locations.

'There are now very few British nationals remaining in Tripoli. It's very important that those that remain go to the airport, that they do so at first light,' he said.

Foreign Office staff fear Gaddafi could try to seize foreigners and use them as hostages as his regime collapses.

Fierce fighting broke out in Tripoli last night, where the dictator has vowed to fight it out to the ‘last drop of blood’.

Armoured units and mercenaries were unleashed on anti-government protesters yesterday with great bloodshed.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1360850/Gaddafis-3bn-British-cash-transfer-How-dictator-secretly-moving-money-Libya.html#ixzz1F45v1XH1