Chinese workers wave from the shuttle bus at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 24, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - As many as 4,600 Chinese nationals had been evacuated from riot-torn Libya by Thursday morning, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu.

Among them, more than 4,000 were transfered to the southern Greek island of Crete by two vessels, over 400 were evacuated to Egypt by land, and the rest were on their way home by a chartered plane, according to Ma.

The first chartered plane sent by the Chinese government left Libya at 1:40 pm Thursday of Beijing time, carrying more than 200 Chinese, Ma told a regular press briefing.

Chinese workers pose for pictures after arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 24, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

The first group of 43 Chinese evacuated from riot-torn Libya arrived in Beijing Thursday morning on a flight from Egypt's northern city of Alexandria.

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The 43 Chinese workers arrived in Beijing Capital International Airport at 10:23 am local time. They took flight EY888 of Etihad Airways, national airline of the United Arab Emirates, which departed from Alexandria on Wednesday.