U.S. suspends all embassy operations in Libya

The United States is suspending all operations at its embassy in Libya, CBS News has learned.

The U.S. has evacuated all embassy staff and their families as the protests and violence escalated throughout the country.

The government is advising any Americans still in Libya to contact the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at www.travel.state.gov.

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The embassy announcement comes after a ferry carrying Americans and other foreigners finally left the Libyan capital on Friday despite choppy seas that stranded thousands of Chinese workers back on land.

The Maria Dolores ferry left Tripoli's As-shahab port on an eight-hour trip for Valetta, Malta. Its passengers, at least 167 U.S. citizens and 118 other foreigners, have been aboard the catamaran since Wednesday in their quest to escape Libya's escalating turmoil, but high seas prevented the ferry from leaving.

"More than 300 passengers are on board the U.S.-chartered ferry from Libya to Malta," U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in a tweet. "Additional passengers were added before departure."