Moscow, Oct 3 (IANS/ITAR -TASS): Russia has evacuated its diplomats and members of their families from Libya, Alexander Lukashevich, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, said Thursday.

“Libya’s Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz, who visited the embassy, told the Russian ambassador the Libyan side was unable to ensure the necessary protection of the embassy and the security of Russian diplomats and that is why he made a recommendation that the diplomats and families should rather leave the compound of the diplomatic mission,” Lukashevich said.

Unidentified gunmen had attacked the building of the Russian embassy in Tripoli Wednesday.

“Considering the circumstances, a decision was taken to evacuate the staff members of all the Russian overseas organizations from Libya via Tunisia,” Lukashevich added.

A specially chartered jet will take the evacuees from Tunisia's capital Tunis to Moscow Friday.

Lukashevich also said that the foreign ministry has issued a warning to Russian citizens that it was highly desirable to stay away from trips to Libya in the wake of Wednesday’s incident.

He, however, added that a group of Russian diplomats from among the senior officials of the embassy in Libya would stay in Tunis to maintain contacts with Libyan officials in Tripoli.