Libyan envoy to India resigns amid protests?

Libyan Ambassador to India Ali al-Essawi has reportedly resigned in protest against his government's violent crackdown on demonstrators.

Hours after BBC reported that Libyan envoy to India has resigned, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao refused to confirm the same and said, "As far as I am aware, he has not got in touch with us on any issue concerning his stay in New Delhi. I have seen the reports relating to his resignation."

She also expressed "deep concern" over the situation in Libya, saying government was monitoring the situation in the country but has not taken any decision on whether to evacuate the Indians living there.

"We are concerned about the developments in Libya. The situation in Benghazi is of particular concern to us because we have a number of Indian citizens there. Our embassy in Tripoli is in touch with these people. We have been monitoring the situation," she said.

Nearly 200 people have been killed in brutal crackdown against protesters demanding an end to Muammar Gadhafi's 41-year rule.

"We have not taken any decision on evacuation yet. But we will obviously monitor the situation and take whatever steps necessary to deal with it," the foreign secretary said.

Rao said a control room in the External Affairs Ministry has already been set up with a telephone number to enable the people in Libya to get in touch with the government in New Delhi.