OFFICIALS ARE HOPING to evacuate more Irish nationals from Libya today, after three were successfully brought to Malta yesterday.

A group of 16 EU nationals were airlifted from Tripoli to Malta by the Irish government’s Gulfstream jet on Sunday, however a small number of Irish nationals remain in Libya today, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Muammar Gaddafi is defiantly facing increasing international pressure to stand down. Yesterday, the UN Security Council unanimously voted to impose a range of sanctions on Libya – and to refer Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court to face a charge of possible crimes against humanity. “This gross violation of human rights will not be tolerated”, said the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the UK had lifted Gaddafi’s diplomatic immunity; the US has imposed unilateral sanctions; and the European Union is expected to approve measures against Libya later today, reports the Financial Times.

The United Nations has placed the number of those forced to flee the country in the face of escalating violence at 100,000 – with most of the refugees flowing into neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt.

About 2,000 troops loyal to Gaddafi are surrounding the city of Zawiyah, which has been taken over by rebels, RTÉ reports.