ITALIAN MILITARY PLANES EVACUATED 350 PEOPLE TO CYPRUS ON SUNDAY AS WESTERN COUNTRIES STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO EVACUATE THEIR CITIZENS FROM LEBANON AMID CONTINUED ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT, AP REPORTED. THE EVACUEES _ INCLUDING SPANIARDS, ITALIANS, AUSTRIANS, CZECHS AND IRISH _ WERE FLOWN TO THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND FROM SYRIA ON ITALIAN C-130 MILITARY TRANSPORT PLANES, CYPRUS' FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID. A GREEK CHARTER FLIGHT ALSO BROUGHT IN 140 PASSENGERS. THEY SAID IT HAD TAKEN 15 HOURS TO DRIVE FROM BEIRUT TO DAMASCUS, SYRIA, USING LENGTHY ROUTES TO BYPASS BOMB-DAMAGED HIGHWAYS. EU-MEMBER CYPRUS HAS BECOME A KEY TRANSIT POINT FOR EVACUEES FROM NEARBY LEBANON, FOLLOWING FIVE DAYS OF AIRSTRIKES BY ISRAEL IN RESPONSE TO ATTACKS BY HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS. THE GOVERNMENT SAID IT WILL PROVIDE PORT AND AIRPORT FACILITIES TO HELP THE EVACUATION. HEALTH MINISTER HARIS CHARALAMBOUS TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AN ITALIAN SHIP FROM LEBANON CARRYING 400 PEOPLE WAS EXPECTED IN CYPRUS LATE SUNDAY OR EARLY MONDAY. HE DID NOT GIVE OTHER DETAILS.
