As many as 286 Egyptians have returned home from Libya via Salloum crossing over the past 24 hours, Marsa Matrouh security chief Mokhtar el Senbary said on Tuesday.

Out of all the returnees, 121 Egyptians had illegally traveled to Libya, he said.

Travel procedures for 972 persons, including 296 Egyptians and 676 Libyans, have been finalized, Senbary added.

Meanwhile, 150 trucks laden with foodstuffs, construction materials and marble left the crossing to Libya, he said.

Senbary also noted that 126 empty trucks arrived to be loaded with Egyptian commodities.

Libya has been witnessing a rising insurgency by different rebel groups and militias and an increasing use of weapons since the overthrow of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Source: MENA