The ferry Ankara, which set sail from the Aegean city of İzmir for the Misrata port on March 27, arrived at the port of Çeşme, İzmir, late on Tuesday, following the rescue of hundreds of wounded Libyans and their families from the besieged Libyan city of Misrata on Sunday and rebel stronghold Benghazi early Monday.
After having to wait off the coast for days, the ship was only able to rescue the Libyans after Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu talked the Libyan government and the opposition forces into holding a 12-hour-long temporary ceasefire.
The vessel brought 479 people, including 321 Libyans who are to receive medical treatment in Turkey, relatives accompanying them as well as several dozen foreigners who requested evacuation. More than 160 ambulances were on standby. The boat which carried medical supplies to Libya, is also returning with 29 foreigners, including those from Greece, Ukraine, Britain, Uzbekistan, Germany and Finland, and nearly 20 Turks.