CAIRO - The Chinese embassy in Egypt said on Tuesday that the embassy staff are ready to help Chinese nationals who are fleeing from the unrest-hit Libya.

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Lu Jingchun, spokesman for the Chinese embassy, said two clerks of the embassy had arrived in Matruh, a port city in northwestern Egypt on Monday, to help staff of Chinese companies who are leaving Libya.

Another team of more than 10 people of the embassy will soon set off from Cairo to the port city, Lu said.

A first batch of some 83 Chinese from Libya will arrive in Matruh but their arrival time is unclear, Lu said.

The Chinese nationals evacuated from Libya will be first arranged to stay temporarily in Matruh or other nearby areas and wait for further measures, he added.

China said Tuesday that it was very concerned about the current situation in Libya, vowing to protect its nationals and firms in the country.  

"China hopes the country can restore social stability and political order as soon as possible," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu at a regular news briefing.  

Since the unrest erupted in Libya on Feb 16, people have been attacked and there has been vandalism, looting and arson, said Ma, adding that Chinese firms had been attacked and Chinese nationals injured.  

Latest reports said a construction site run by Huafeng Construction Co, Ltd. from China's Zhejiang Province was looted by a group of armed gangsters Sunday afternoon in the eastern city of Agedabia, and nearly 1,000 Chinese workers there were forced from their on site living quarters and had become homeless.

Ma said the Chinese Embassy in Libya had established contact with all Chinese firms in Libya and was working with relevant departments at home to safeguard national interests and protect the safety and property of Chinese nationals.