ROME, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Italy is readying an evacuation plan for its nationals in Beirut where factional fighting has intensified in the last week, Italian News Agency ANSA said on Friday.

    The Italian Foreign Ministry's crisis unit said Friday the 50 or so Italians in the center of the city would be moved to safety "as soon as possible", according to ANSA.

    It said all 50 were well and had to been advised to stay home until the plan was ready.

    Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini indicated that they and some of the 600 Italians in the rest of Lebanon might be offered an airlift out of the country if the situation deteriorates.

    At least 11 people have been killed and 30 wounded in three days of battles between government forces and militia Hezbollah.

    It has been the worst fighting in the capital since the 1975-90civil war.

    Italy is leading a United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, providing a buffer between Hezbollah and Israeli troops after fierce fighting in 2006.