Lebanon evacuees flown back to UK

The first plane carrying Britons evacuated from war-torn Lebanon has touched down in the UK with 80 evacuees on board.

Among those who arrived on the government-chartered flight at Gatwick was Elise Mazegi, 32, from Brighton, with her toddler son and baby triplets.

Hundreds of Britons have been gathering at a convention centre in Beirut.

Some Britons trapped in the southern port of Tyre are being evacuated on a UN-chartered ferry.

The Royal Navy-led evacuation from Beirut will see up to 5,000 Britons ferried away to safety in Cyprus.

Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman is going Cyprus to review the pullout.

Israel launched an air offensive on targets in Lebanon last week following the capture of two of its soldiers by Lebanese guerrillas.

Hezbollah fighters have been firing hundreds of missiles into northern Israel.

UK FOREIGN OFFICE ADVICE Britons and those with dual nationality wanting to leave Lebanon - go to Beirut Forum from 0930 local time on Thursday Bring travel documents, money/credit cards and one piece of hand luggage Anyone with larger luggage will be sent home to repack Non-immediate family or friends who are not British citizens are not allowed Pets are not allowed Britons trapped in southern Lebanon should stay put until alternative evacuation arrangements can be made Can call Foreign Office helpline on 0207 008 1500 or embassy in Beirut on (00) (961) (1) 990400 Royal Navy's Lebanon fleet The evacuation plan

More than 300 Lebanese people - mostly civilians - and 29 Israelis, including 15 civilians killed by Hezbollah rocket attacks, have been killed since the fighting began.

Mrs Mazegi, 32, was living with her sister in a Beirut suburb with her five-month-old triplets - Isabella, Yasmin and Joey - and three-year-old son, Dany, when the air raids started.

"I'm just relieved to be home. It has been very tiring. I'm looking forward to a reunion with my husband later today in Brighton," she said.

"It was a really well organised evacuation, and everybody was really helpful."

However, not all Britons have been able to flee to safety.

BBC Correspondent Jim Muir, the only UK television journalist in Tyre, southern Lebanon, which has been hit by Israeli air-strikes, said thousands of people were trapped, unable to reach Beirut.

Among the Britons is Carolanne Nehme, from Glasgow, who is on holiday with her husband and nine-month-old baby.

She described the "absolute chaos" as they had gathered for evacuation on the Tyre sea front with hundreds of other foreign passport holders but their UN-chartered ferry was initially forced to turn back as it did not have clearance from the Israeli navy.

My fiance is on HMS York - I am extremely proud of him and everyone helping Anon, Birmingham Send us your views

Two Royal Navy ships - HMS York and HMS Gloucester - are ferrying people to safety.

HMS Gloucester has taken 830 people from Lebanon to the port of Limassol in Cyprus.

HMS York brought 330 evacuees from Beirut.

Four more Royal Navy ships, including the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and the commando assault ship HMS Bulwark, will arrive off the Lebanese coast on Thursday.

Further evacuations begin at 09.30am local time.

Lord Triesman said: "Our priority continues to be to get those most in need out first, as safely as possible."

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