Egypt ends unrestricted entry for Libyan travellers, imposes visa requirement
Posted July 9, 2011 12:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt has ended unrestricted entry for Libyan nationals and has imposed visa requirements for Libyan travellers.
The new regulation went into effect Saturday, causing confusion at Cairo’s international airport as dozens of Libyans landing from European countries were denied entry and sent back.
Capt. Ayman Nasr, who heads the state-owned Egypt Air, says authorities failed to notify airlines of the new regulation before travellers boarded planes at various airports in Europe.
Tens of thousands of Libyans fled their country’s civil war by crossing into Egypt after Moammar Gadhafi violently cracked down on a popular uprising.
Many returning Libyans seek to go to the eastern, rebel-held half of country through Egypt.