TUNIS - More and more foreign diplomats and businessmen are fleeing Libya to neighboring Tunisia amid intensified NATO bombardment to expedite defiant leader Muammar Gadhafi's demise.

After dawn Friday, a growing number of cars lined up at Ras Jedir, the main crossing point between the two countries, to enter Tunisia, Agence Tunis Afrique Presse said Friday.

More than 12,000 refugees have crossed over since Monday, when NATO stepped up air raids on Tripoli, including diplomats and businessmen from different countries.

Though the number of refugees is large, Tunisian customs and security officials are conducting strict checks on those who want to cross the border, the agency said.

Since the Libya crisis broke out in February, Tunisia has received 470,000 refugees from Libya.

The report also said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres will visit Tunisia from June 15 to June 18 to evaluate the situation.