Passengers who have flown into Britain after fleeing crisis-torn Libya on board HMS Cumberland have spoken of the chaos gripping the state as anti-regime protests grow.
A total of 116 people, including 68 Britons, flew from Malta to Gatwick Airport on Flight HV7004.
Many passengers spoke of the deteriorating safety on the streets of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and marauding gangs ransacking and looting.
Construction industry worker Jong-Kuk Lee, a 56-year-old Korean who lives in Surbiton, Surrey, was greeted with hugs by his tearful wife Cecilia, 51, and daughter Joo Lee, 26.
Mr Lee was attacked at knifepoint by thugs and robbed of possessions including his passport and mobile phone in the middle of the night in his living quarters.
Amid reports of the turmoil, his family back home in Britain received a phone call from him saying he was staying at a power plant in the hope that it would not be targeted.
His daughter, who works for an investment bank, said: "He thought that by staying at a power plant it would be a safe place to be with two of his colleagues.
"He left a message for us from the power plant saying that he wasn't hurt, he was fine and not to worry. He didn't give much away, which was typical of Dad." Miss Lee added that she found out that he was definitely one of the people to make it on board HMS Cumberland after giving a television interview.
"The commander contacted my mother personally to say that my father was on board after seeing my interview on Sky News," she said.
Mr Lee had tears in his eyes as he was greeted at Gatwick's South Terminal with huge hugs. He said: "I feel better now. I had everything stolen. They took everything from me. I didn't have my passport or mobile. It was terrible."
