Libya has joined an ever-growing list of worldwide destinations to which travellers should pay close attention if they are planning a trip to the country in the near future.
An annoying war has sprung up between the forces of Colonel Gaddafi, the country's leader, and pesky rebel forces who are seeking to overthrow his regime. Battles are ongoing, and could cause severe disruption, even to the most hardy and determined of holidaymakers.
A particular hotspot is the Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli which Gaddafi used as his base, but which has now fallen under rebel control, in much the same way as the sunloungers fall under the control of early-rising Germans in Majorca.
Other areas in which tourists should be wary are the Abu Salim and al-Hadba districts, and near the Hotel Rixos, where there are still pockets of resistance. Sporadic gunfire means that many of the city's markets are operating on a limited basis, and souvenirs are in short supply.
The country's beaches are, in the main, still accessible, but many are 'strewn with bodies', and may prove unsuitable for those with young children.
The British Government has issued a statement which can be accessed on its website calling for visitors to Libya to exercise 'extreme caution', and only to continue with their itineraries if it is absolutely necessary. One official said:
"We are advising UK citizens to travel to other destinations such as Blackpool and Margate if at all possible."
