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| Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa flees to UK | 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. | 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. | It said Mr Koussa had indicated he was no longer willing to represent the Libyan leader's regime internationally. |
| The FCO added it wanted to "encourage those around Gaddafi to abandon him and embrace a better future for Libya". | |
| A Libyan government spokesman earlier insisted Mr Koussa had been travelling abroad on a diplomatic mission. | A Libyan government spokesman earlier insisted Mr Koussa had been travelling abroad on a diplomatic mission. |
| The development came on the same day the UK took steps to expel five Libyan diplomats. | The development came on the same day the UK took 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. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Koussa had flown into Farnborough airport, in Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon from Tunisia and had been debriefed, most likely by intelligence officials. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Koussa had flown into Farnborough airport, in Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon from Tunisia 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. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. |
| "We encourage those around Gaddafi to abandon him and embrace a better future for Libya that allows political transition and real reform that meets the aspirations of the Libyan people." | "We encourage those around Gaddafi to abandon him and embrace a better future for Libya that allows political transition and real reform that meets the aspirations of the Libyan people." |
| BBC world affairs correspondent John Simpson said he suspected Col Gaddafi would shrug off Mr Koussa's resignation as he had lost other ministers in the past. | BBC world affairs correspondent John Simpson said he suspected Col Gaddafi would shrug off Mr Koussa's resignation as he had lost other ministers in the past. |
| Providing arms | Providing arms |
| His interior minister is now in Benghazi and it did not really make any difference at all as "this is a one horse show", he said. | His interior minister is now in Benghazi and it did not really make any difference at all as "this is a one horse show", he said. |
| Rebels opposed to Col Gaddafi's rule and fighting Libyan government forces are continuing to lose ground and are retreating from their former strongholds along the eastern coast of Libya. | Rebels opposed to Col Gaddafi's rule and 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. |