Foreigners flee Libya as world leaders seek resolution to crisis

A ferry chartered by the U.S. on Friday evacuated at least 285 people, mostly Americans, from the violence in Libya, the representative of the company operating the ferry said. The ship sent to Malta. Earlier in the day, a British ship left Benghazi - the second largest city - with 207 people on board. World leaders will hold a special session Friday to discuss the escalating violence in the north African state. "The seriousness of the situation, and forcible suppression of rebellion in this country to demand so much attention," the UN's top human rights body said. The evacuation turned into a diplomatic dispute between Libya and Lebanon. Libya has refused to allow the plane to pick up stranded citizens of Lebanon, in Tripoli, the official Lebanese news agency said on Friday. Two days earlier, Lebanon refused to land rights, a Libyan aircraft that was "said to be members of the (Libyan leader Muammar) Gaddafi family," said Ali Hamdan, advisor on foreign relations. As a confrontation between protesters and long-term ruler of the country continues, the excitement seemed to spread towards Tripoli. The capital was a stronghold of the government, and managed to cancel the protesters calling for the governor to resign. In Tripoli, there were several reports of security forces determine the streets Thursday night. They removed the barricades, removed organs and painted over graffiti, witnesses said. The streets were quiet early on Friday morning in the capital, as crowds lined up at bakeries to get bread