The UK government is making plans to charter a plane to Libya to help stranded Britons return home, the Foreign Secretary William Hague has said in a news conference in Whitehall.
A Royal Navy warship, HMS Cumberland, would also be moved to wait off the Libyan coast, he added.
Hundreds of people are reported to have died in violence there in recent days.
Mr Hague told a news conference talks were under way to fly a charter aircraft to Tripoli within 48 hours.
He said a team of Foreign Office specialists would also be sent to the country to help UK citizens.
The ship, if allowed to dock at a Libyan port, could assist in evacuation efforts, Mr Hague added.
The foreign secretary admitted British people were experiencing considerable difficulties leaving Libya.
There were people at Tripoli airport with no immediate flights out, he added.
"This situation is extremely fluid. We will provide further information as it develops," he said.
Two UK airlines have cancelled flights in and out of Libya because of the unrest.
British Airways and British Midland International scrapped their services to the capital Tripoli on Tuesday. Others are thought to have followed suit.
The airlines stressed they were monitoring the situation and were trying to keep their passengers informed.
'Airport chaos'
Most of the 3,500 Britons resident in Libya are thought to have already left.
Meanwhile Italy, Greece and the Netherlands are sending transport planes to Libya to get their citizens out. Austria and Portugal have already done so.
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Libya.
One Briton, whose relatives are stuck in Tripoli, described chaotic scenes at the airport and said the UK government was doing nothing to help them.
The woman, who asked not to be named, told BBC News: "The Foreign Office has told everyone to leave Libya, however there are no flights available.
"My brother-in-law was advised to take cash to the airport as the cash machines are not working. He has bought six tickets with cash and has not been able to get on any flight."
Relatives of British people currently working and living in Libya told the BBC of their concern for their relatives.
Julie O'Shea, from Uddingston in Glasgow, said she was worried about her father, an oil worker.
"My dad is stuck in the Amal desert in Libya and fears for his life. We haven't heard from him since last night. He is currently in staff quarters.
"Even though there is security, they have been targeted by looters and have had all vehicles stolen so there's no way out even if they wanted to leave."
A Royal Navy warship, HMS Cumberland, would also be moved to wait off the Libyan coast, he added.
Hundreds of people are reported to have died in violence there in recent days.
Mr Hague told a news conference talks were under way to fly a charter aircraft to Tripoli within 48 hours.
He said a team of Foreign Office specialists would also be sent to the country to help UK citizens.
The ship, if allowed to dock at a Libyan port, could assist in evacuation efforts, Mr Hague added.
The foreign secretary admitted British people were experiencing considerable difficulties leaving Libya.
There were people at Tripoli airport with no immediate flights out, he added.
"This situation is extremely fluid. We will provide further information as it develops," he said.
Two UK airlines have cancelled flights in and out of Libya because of the unrest.
British Airways and British Midland International scrapped their services to the capital Tripoli on Tuesday. Others are thought to have followed suit.
The airlines stressed they were monitoring the situation and were trying to keep their passengers informed.
'Airport chaos'
Most of the 3,500 Britons resident in Libya are thought to have already left.
Meanwhile Italy, Greece and the Netherlands are sending transport planes to Libya to get their citizens out. Austria and Portugal have already done so.
The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to Libya.
One Briton, whose relatives are stuck in Tripoli, described chaotic scenes at the airport and said the UK government was doing nothing to help them.
The woman, who asked not to be named, told BBC News: "The Foreign Office has told everyone to leave Libya, however there are no flights available.
"My brother-in-law was advised to take cash to the airport as the cash machines are not working. He has bought six tickets with cash and has not been able to get on any flight."
Relatives of British people currently working and living in Libya told the BBC of their concern for their relatives.
Julie O'Shea, from Uddingston in Glasgow, said she was worried about her father, an oil worker.
"My dad is stuck in the Amal desert in Libya and fears for his life. We haven't heard from him since last night. He is currently in staff quarters.
"Even though there is security, they have been targeted by looters and have had all vehicles stolen so there's no way out even if they wanted to leave."
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