美国驻利比亚使馆在外交人员乘飞机离开这个国家后于星期五暂停了使馆的运作。但是美国官方说，美国和卡扎菲政府代表之间的外交接触仍然继续。

　　Officials here announced the embassy closure shortly after receiving confirmation that remaining U.S. diplomats were safely aboard a chartered airliner that left a military airfield near Tripoli Friday morning.

　　美国国务院官员在获得确实信息，知道余下的美国外交人员星期五早上已经安全离开利比亚之后宣布了关闭使馆的消息。美国驻利比亚的外交人员在的黎波里附近一个军用机场安全登上了一架租赁包机后离开了利比亚。

　　But they stress that the move does not amount to a break in diplomatic relations with Libya, and that contacts continue with government officials including Foreign Minister Musa Kusa with the hope of influencing Libyan behavior.

　　但是，他们强调这一举动并不等于切断美国与利比亚的外交关系。美国仍然继续和利比亚政府官员进行接触，如外交部长库萨，以期望通过这些接触影响利比亚当局的行动。

　　Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy told reporters the decision to suspend operations at the Tripoli post was made Thursday, amid increasing gunfire in the city and that the last 19 U.S. diplomats were told to join the evacuation flight.

　　负责管理的美国国务次卿帕特里克.肯尼迪告诉记者说，关闭使馆的决定是星期四作出的。当时，的黎波里的枪战越来越激烈，有关方面也通知了最后19名美国使馆外交人员和其他人一起搭乘撤离飞机。

　　"We will execute, always, due prudence when we engage in diplomatic activities," said Kennedy. "We're there to represent the United States. We're there to advance our economic interests. We're there to assist and protect American citizens. But when the situation becomes significantly insecure, it is at that point prudent to continue our diplomatic activities with a country via other means."

　　肯尼迪说：“我们在从事外交活动时，一如既往，要保持谨慎。我们在利比亚是代表美国。我们在那里是为了促进我国的经济利益。我们在那里是为了帮助并保护美国公民。但是在形势变得非常不稳定的情况下，通过其它手段来继续我们的外交活动才是谨慎的做法。”

　　A senior official who spoke to reporters said Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns, who is consulting with U.S. allies in Europe, spoke by telephone Friday with Libyan Foreign Minister Kusa, and that contacts will continue as a means of persuading authorities to stop the violence.

　　一名向记者发表讲话的高级官员说，负责政治事务的国务次卿威廉.伯恩斯正在和美国的欧洲盟友进行商讨。他星期五通过电话和利比亚外交部长库萨进行了交谈。伯恩斯说，这样的接触将会继续，作为说服利比亚当局停止暴力的手段。