Pertamina workers evacuated from Iraq
Friday, March 14 2003 - 12:57 AM WIB
Indonesia on Thursday evacuated its six nationals working for state-owned oil company Pertamina from Iraq, and said it would soon withdraw most of its embassy staff from the country because of the threat of war, AP reported.
"We are being prudent," said Marty Natelegawa, a spokesman for Indonesia's Foreign Ministry. "We don't want to be caught in a bad spot."
He said the six Pertamina workers left the country on Thursday. Four embassy workers were scheduled to depart on Friday, leaving only three Indonesians in the mission in Baghdad, Natelegawa said.
A group of 25 Indonesian students remain in Iraq, he said. Many of the students are nearing the end of their studies, and are worried they won't receive their final grades if they leave, he said.
Indonesia has drawn up contingency plans to evacuate an estimated 50,000 of its nationals currently working elsewhere in the Middle East.(*)