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Follow Moussa Koussa and quit, UK tells Libyan figures | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
UK officials have encouraged other senior Libyan officials to abandon Col Gaddafi after his foreign minister fled to Britain and resigned. | |
Moussa Koussa arrived in London on Wednesday saying he was no longer willing to represent the Libyan leader's regime internationally. | |
The Foreign Office said it wanted "those around Gaddafi to abandon him and embrace a better future for Libya". | |
The Libyan government said Mr Koussa was travelling on a diplomatic mission. | |
The development came on the same day as 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 is believed to have arrived on a British military plane. | |
"What is not clear is whether he has arrived simply to escape, or to play a wider role in any opposition to Col Gaddafi," our political editor 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." |
Providing arms | Providing arms |
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. |
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. |
Noman Benotman, a friend of Mr Koussa and a senior analyst at the UK-based Quilliam think-tank, told Reuters news agency: "He wasn't happy at all. He doesn't support the government attacks on civilians. | Noman Benotman, a friend of Mr Koussa and a senior analyst at the UK-based Quilliam think-tank, told Reuters news agency: "He wasn't happy at all. He doesn't support the government attacks on civilians. |
"He's seeking refuge in Britain and hopes he will be treated well." | "He's seeking refuge in Britain and hopes he will be treated well." |
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. |
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK is not ruling out providing arms to rebels in "certain circumstances" but no decision had been taken. | Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK is 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. |