World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkey may evacuate its embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli, foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday, a day after his ministry advised all Turkish citizens to leave the North African country due to the worsening security situation.

"There has been serious conflict in Libya for the recent months... We have taken measures for the evacuation of a few hundred Turks in Libya," Davutoglu said in an interview with the Turkish broadcaster AHaber.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has reiterated its travel warning on Tuesday for its citizens in Libya amid chaotic clashes between rival factions in the North African country.

A statement released on Wednesday morning strongly recommended citizens to immediately leave Libya and avoid non-essential travel after airports were closed down due to shelling.

Citizens were urged to use a land route to neighboring Tunisia, from which they could take a flight back to Turkey with consular and logistics help. 

Last week, clashes erupted in Tripoli between Libya Shield forces (a part of the Libyan army) and the Al-Qaaqaa and Al-Sawaaq militias near Tripoli's airport.

Al-Qaqaa and Al-Sawaaq are two of the largest and best equipped armed militias to have been established in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi's ouster three years ago.

Libyan authorities have struggled to restore law and order since Gaddafi's 2011 ouster and death, with several local militias – which had helped overthrow the strongman – refusing to give up their weapons.