LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday called for UN sanctions on Moamer Qadhafi's regime and probes into potential crimes as he took personal charge of efforts to rescue Britons stuck in Libya.
"The violence we have seen is appalling and unacceptable," Cameron told broadcasters.
He warned Libya: "The world is watching you and the world will hold you to account.
"Britain, through the United Nations, is pressing for asset seizures, for travel bans, for sanctions, for all of the things that we can do to hold those people to account, including investigating for potential crimes against humanity or war crimes or crimes against their people."
After the British government was blasted by the country's press for its relatively sluggish response to the crisis as Kadhafi wages a bloody campaign to cling to power, Cameron returned from a tour of Gulf States to take charge.
The prime minister chaired meetings of the National Security Council ministers, and the COBRA crisis response committee, which includes military chiefs, as planes brought back stranded Britons.
A third British-chartered plane landed at London Gatwick Airport on Friday with 130 passengers on board, including 53 Britons.
More than 300 Britons have been evacuated now from Tripoli by air on special flights, with the Foreign Office saying they have helped more than 500 British nationals to leave Libya.
Arriving at Gatwick, Andrew Briscoe, 44, a former army sergeant major, described chaotic scenes at Tripoli airport.
"The atmosphere was very tense. There was mad panic," he said.
"The Libyan riot police were trying to keep people away. The whole human detritus was there.
"In Tripoli the shops were open, the markets were open. Everywhere was normal. Just the airport was total and utter chaos."
Susie Bridges, 38, an English teacher trainer, said she felt fortunate to leave.
"Egyptians, Tunisians and Moroccans might well be dying," she said.
"We had to walk past thousands and thousands of Egyptians -- Egyptian migrant workers who were looking to get home.
"Lots of people were in floods of tears."
A further 68 Britons and 139 others are on board HMS Cumberland heading to Malta. The navy frigate's progress has been hampered by bad sailing conditions.
A fourth British charter flight was boarding at Tripoli airport on Friday, and Cameron sent the navy destroyer HMS York to the region.
Fewer than 500 British nationals remain in Libya, a Foreign Office spokesman told AFP, including oil workers in remote desert camps, though as more Britons are evacuated, more are coming forward.
There is particular concern for the estimated 170 Britons in the desert, who fear they are prone to attacks and looting as the north African state is ravaged by violence.
Britain does not comment on its special forces operations, but one minister suggested Thursday that they were on standby for a rescue.
"We will do everything we can, today and tomorrow... to help get you out," Cameron said of the oil workers.
"We will do what is necessary to keep people safe and bring people home.
"But I would say that people do need to leave now."
Cameron, Deputy PM Nick Cleg
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