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Libyan foreign minister 'resigns' and heads to London | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Libya's foreign minister Moussa Koussa has arrived in London from Tunisia and told UK officials he is quitting his post, the Foreign Office says. | |
A Libyan government spokesman insisted Mr Koussa was travelling abroad on a diplomatic mission. | |
But the BBC's Nick Robinson said sources had told him they were confident Mr Koussa had come to London to escape the regime. | |
It comes as the UK takes steps to expel five Libyan diplomats. | It comes as the UK takes steps to expel five Libyan diplomats. |
Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs the five, who include the military attache, "could pose a threat" to UK security. | Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs the five, who include the military attache, "could pose a threat" to UK security. |
Our political editor Nick Robinson said he understood the minister had flown into Farnborough airport on Wednesday afternoon and had been debriefed, most likely by intelligence officials. | |
He said Mr Koussa had not met with Prime Minister David Cameron or Foreign Secretary William Hague. | |
"It's clear he is no longer prepared to represent the Gaddafi regime," Nick Robinson added. | |
The UK Foreign Office said Mr Koussa had travelled to Britain and said he was resigning his post. | |
The development comes as rebels fighting Libyan government forces are continuing to lose ground and are retreating from their former strongholds along the eastern coast of Libya. | The development comes as rebels fighting Libyan government forces are continuing to lose ground and are retreating from their former strongholds along the eastern coast of Libya. |
Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was not ruling out providing arms to rebels in "certain circumstances" but no decision had been taken. | Earlier, Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was not ruling out providing arms to rebels in "certain circumstances" but no decision had been taken. |
The UK has been involved in more than 160 aerial missions, as well as missile strikes, over Libya since coalition operations began on 19 March following a UN resolution. | The UK has been involved in more than 160 aerial missions, as well as missile strikes, over Libya since coalition operations began on 19 March following a UN resolution. |
The coalition military action is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to its leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. It has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance. | The coalition military action is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to its leader Col Muammar Gaddafi. It has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance. |