Gadhafi forces detain Palestinian students

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Libyan forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi detained Palestinian students Monday in Misurata, officials said.

Reports from informed sources said Gadhafi's forces detained Palestinians studying at a military college in the northwestern city after they refused to join the pro-regime forces.

Palestinian military intelligence director Nidhal Abu Dukhan told Ma'an that PA officials were in constant contact with Palestinian students in Libya.

"I am checking up every single hour with the military attaché at the Palestinian embassy in Libya on 43 Palestinian students at military colleges in Libya," he said.

"The embassy decided to accommodate them in apartments near the embassy, and they were asked to remain under supervision of the military attaché and not try to cross borders until the embassy finds a way move them out of Libya safely as soon as possible.”

Abu Dukhan added that the Palestinian Authority did not have the capabilities to evacuate its nationals, as other countries have done.

"Frankly speaking, the PA does not have any fleets or warships to send to Libya to evacuate the Palestinians. However, we await any opportunity to evacuate them safely to the airport, then the homeland," he explained.