All NZers who wanted out of Libya have left - McCully

All New Zealanders who wanted to leave Libya have done so, Foreign Minister Murray McCully says.

"There are only four New Zealanders remaining in Libya and they all wish to remain there," Mr McCully told Radio New Zealand this morning.

"They are clearly in circumstances where they feel comfortable about remaining. Everyone who wants to leave has been assisted to leave."

New Zealand had little diplomatic capacity in Libya, so New Zealanders who wanted to leave had been looked after by Britain, Ireland and the United States.

In all the Foreign Affairs Ministry helped 29 New Zealanders leave -- five were evacuated to Malta by Britain on a navy ship, one took a United States-chartered ferry to Malta, two were evacuated on an Irish charter flight to Ireland, three took advantage of British-chartered evacuation flights and the remainder left on commercial flights.

Asked if the Government would help relatives of New Zealand Libyans, Mr McCully said the Government was taking things "step-by-step" and it would look at issues like that after seeing what impact United Nations' (UN) efforts to bring peace had.

Libyan armed forces today (NZ Time) issued a command to all units to observe an immediate ceasefire. The announcement came after some 24 hours of air bombardment from American, French and British forces aiming to implement a UN resolution authorising the use of force to protect Libyan civilians from government troops.

Earlier in the day, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was using tanks and artillery to try to put down the most serious uprising in his 41 years in power, said he would give out weapons to his people to help defend Libya against Western forces.

Mr McCully said New Zealand offered "strong moral and political support" to the UN action but did not have troops or the right equipment to help with the action.

"Let's hope that in the next day or so we will see a ceasefire stick."

The Government supported the UN resolution and said it had "taken its time" to get to that point.

Prime Minister John Key told Breakfast on TV One that the Government offered diplomatic and political support.

"I don't think practically we offer them military support, we are too far away and I am not sure that would be what's required. I mean Nato seem to have more than enough resources," he said.

"It's quite clear Gaddafi has been undertaking violence against his people, it's abhorrent, we want to see that end and we do want to see a smooth and peaceful transition to a new leader."

Mr McCully said he had sought reports on New Zealand's trade and international education arrangements with Libya to see if they were came under a UN resolution which imposed sanctions.

The embargo was on members of the regime, financial transactions and military goods, Mr McCully said.

"I don't think we are likely to be touched particularly by that," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr Key was yesterday asked about the agreement the Government signed with Libya last year allowing students to come here to study.

About 300 a year are expected to take it up, earning New Zealand about $30 million.

"(We) shouldn't necessarily cut that capacity simply because we don't agree with the actions of Colonel Gaddafi."