ROME: Italy said Sunday that it was pulling out staff from its embassy in Libya and suspending operations there because of mounting insecurity in the troubled country.

The move came as Rome reiterated its willingness to lead a multinational force to tackle the growing jihadi threat in Libya, a former Italian colony.

In total, about 100 Italians were being evacuated by ship from the North African state, foreign ministry sources said.

The ministry said the embassy – the last Western mission to remain open in Libya – has “suspended its activities because of the worsening security situation.”

But it said in a statement that “essential services” would continue.

Rome had warned its nationals Friday against traveling to Libya and urged those already there to leave as the jihadis gain ground.

However, hundreds of Italians, working in the Libyan oil and gas sector, remain in the country.

Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti said in an interview published Sunday that Italy was ready to lead a coalition from Europe and North African states to battle against the advance of jihadi groups in Libya.

“We have been discussing this for months but now it has become urgent,” Pinotti told Il Messaggero newspaper, adding that Italy was willing to send in thousands of men.

Since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was toppled and killed in a NATO-backed revolt in 2011, Libya has been plagued by conflict among rival forces battling for control of key cities and the country’s oil riches.

Taking advantage of the chaos, ISIS fighters claimed a string of deadly attacks.

The latest targeted a luxury hotel in Tripoli on Jan. 27, nine people were killed, five of them foreigners.

“The risk is imminent, we cannot wait any longer. Italy has national defense needs and cannot have a caliphate ruling across the shores from us,” Pinotti said.

She said the risk of jihadis arriving in Italy on boats carrying immigrants from Libya “could not be ruled out.”

Thousands of migrants escaping war or famine make the perilous crossing across the Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe, but large numbers perish.

In the latest tragedy last week, more than 300 died when their overcrowded rubber dinghies collapsed and sank in stormy seas.

The Vatican’s representative in Tripoli, Bishop Giovanni Martinelli told La Stampa newspaper that he wanted to stay in Libya for the moment in solidarity with 300 Filipino Catholics still there.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had told public television Saturday that Rome was committed to intervening in Libya, and called for a stronger U.N. mission.

“We have told Europe and the international community that we have to stop sleeping,” he said.

“We need a stronger U.N. mission. Italy is ready, as part of a U.N. mission to fulfill its role to defend an idea of freedom in the Mediterranean region.” 

Meanwhile, an oil official said El Sarir oil field was still unable to pump oil to Hariga port after sabotage on a pipeline just north of the field where repairs are ongoing.

The pipeline was damaged and set on fire Saturday, halting crude flows to Hariga, the last land-based oil export port still loading after two other large terminals were closed by factional fighting.