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Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa flees to UK | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Libya's foreign minister Moussa Koussa, one of Col Gaddafi's closest aides, has arrived in London and told officials he is quitting, the Foreign Office says. | |
It said Mr Koussa had indicated he was no longer willing to represent the Libyan leader's regime internationally. | |
But a Libyan government spokesman has insisted Mr Koussa was travelling abroad on a diplomatic mission. | |
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. |
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the minister had flown into Farnborough airport, in Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon and had been debriefed, most likely by intelligence officials. | |
He said the fact he had flown into Farnborough was significant as he had clearly not been on a commercial flight. | |
"What is not clear is whether he has arrived simply to escape, or to play a wider role in any opposition to Col Gaddafi," he said. | |
"Clearly his defection, if that's what it becomes, will be used to urge others to follow suit and claim the regime is losing support." | |
Mr Koussa has not met with Prime Minister David Cameron or Foreign Secretary William Hague yet, but he is known to have been a point of contact for Mr Hague in recent weeks. | |
In a statement the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that Moussa Koussa arrived at Farnborough Airport on 30 March from Tunisia. | |
"He travelled here under his own free will. He has told us he is resigning his post. | |
"Koussa is one of the most senior figures in Gaddafi's government and his role was to represent the regime internationally - something that he is no longer willing to do." | |
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. |