Libya admits Mousa Kousa's defection
File picture - Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (left) greet Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa.
Libya's government today shrugged off the departure of Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa, saying Muammar Gaddafi's regime "does not depend on individuals".
This was the government's first admission of the defection.
The defection of the foreign minister, the most senior figure to jump ship since the uprising against Gaddafi's iron-clad 41-year rule erupted more than six weeks ago, was widely seen today as an indication that the strongman's regime is crumbling.
Kousa arrived at Farnborough Airfield, west of London, yesterday.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted that Kousa, who has been blamed for atrocities including the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, had not been offered immunity from prosecution in British or international courts.
"Mousa Kousa is not being offered any immunity from British or international justice," Hague told reporters.
He said the minister was being interviewed "voluntarily" by British officials.
"He said that he is resigning his post. We are discussing this with him."
Kousa's defection was a "sign that the regime's days are numbered," defected immigration minister Ali Errishi told France 24 television today.
"It is the end... it is a blow to the regime (and) others will follow," said Errishi who himself defected soon after the insurrection began.
"Kousa was his most trusted aide. Gaddafi no longer has anybody. It's just him and his kids."
Libya’s former deputy ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi, told France 24 in a separate interview that Kousa's defection "was very important at this stage because he knows a lot of secrets of the regime. He has been working with the Gaddafi regime for a long period now."n.
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Martin Cassar
Mar 31st 2011, 17:22
@SPace Keep your hair on dude :) What technology are you talking about? What technology can do with some one ready to explode himself/herself?. You can deal with a nuclear bomb but will never deal with a suicide bomber. Taliban and Al-Qaeda were in Afghanistan and today there are too many global invisible branches of Al-Qaeda. We were relatively fear-less and free. Today we have our panties to be scanned-‘losing’ our freedom and privacy and have turned to a police-states. We were economically stable. Today we are facing bankruptcy, thanks goes to Bush's useless wars that costs TRILLIONS and didn’t achieve a thing. The killing of seven CIA agents last year proved that CIA people are a completer failure! Mr. Sarkozy (who's desperate for votes) and allies initiated the wars and it seems that only Al-Qaeda will decide when and how to finish. At what price? Methinks. NATO should first get Ben Laden before starting another use-less chase after Gaddafi. @P Sciberras. Are you in doubt that Ben Laden is number one ally of the USA-CIA? check the collapse of ex USSR please to get the full picture.
margaret richards
Mar 31st 2011, 17:22
The less said about certain issues the better it is for one and all, especially re intelligence and security services. You don't know who in the hell might be reading these freaking blogs. So shut your mouths and don't write anything which can be interpreted in more ways than one.
SPace
Mar 31st 2011, 16:37
That some elements of Al Qaeda may have joined the ranks of the freedom fighters does not mean that other Libyans should not fight for liberty. It was expected. The allies should make it clear that if these elements think that they are going to share any spoils of war, they are totally wrong. They will be weeded out afterwards. Allies have operatives on the ground to check about some rebels.
Al Qaeda will not be allowed to run a country. Today's intelligence is highly developed and any wrong move by a hypothetical suspicious libyan government would also mean his death knell, as much as Gaddafi will be removed. I dont have the impression that Libyans support Al Qaeda anyhow. AQ can only thrive in the mountains of Pakistan and not in the open, let alone being allowed to govern. I think that the fear of AQ is a bit exaggerated.
P Sciberras
Mar 31st 2011, 16:06
An Admiral of the USA said yesterday,that Al-Qaeda functions are operating with the Libyan rebels.Does this means that the USA knows and is collaborating with her No1 enemy?
DGalea
Mar 31st 2011, 16:05
There is more to it then meets the eye.If Mr Mussa has been Gheddafi's spy chief for several years , he must know plenty about the behind-the-scenes deals that went on between the Gheddafi regime and the western countries that were willing to do business with him for several decades. Who knows what HIS price will be to make him shut NOT open his mouth about everything he may know.
The fact that he prefered to defect to Britain rather then France is interesting too.
Vincent Galea
Mar 31st 2011, 15:33
Gadaffi has repeatedly declared that al-Qaeda militants are determined to make Libya a haven global jihad.
What if Gadaffi is actually telling the truth ? How will our life be with al-Qaeda as our next door neighbours ?
M.Bezzina
Mar 31st 2011, 15:44
filkas mur oqtolohom int ux!!Wara bibna mhux il Libja qedin xi trid tamillhom??Laqwa li ma jigux law!!
A.Busuttil
Mar 31st 2011, 16:09
I agree that al Qaeda eye is on Libya. Before the last minute of Gaddafi he will finance them and surely they will act as a revange on his behalf. This is the reason why NATO countries has not gave amunition to the rebals,.
andrewbrincat
Mar 31st 2011, 15:18
Theres something fishy with this defection!!! this is not an honest defection!! don't trust this guy.
my question is, how come he wasn't verbally abused and badly treated, the same way Iman al Obeidi (the woman who went to journalist to talk about the rap she suffered) ? something is not right
Winston Smith
Mar 31st 2011, 14:28
Libyan rebels are supported and backed by Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood
Frank Portelli 2BFRANK
Mar 31st 2011, 14:19
No doubt Moussa Koussa has a lot to answer for, howvere granting Moussa Koussa immunity from prosecution should be considered.
Naturally on the proviso that if he does not tell the whole truth immunity could be lifted at any time
Only in this way can we ensure that the truth be known and that ultimate justice will prevail espcially as in the case of Lockerbie.
Needless to say expect a domino effect.
Once it becomes public knowledge that immunity is being considered there will be a domino effect and Gaddafi's regime will crumble
Dr Frank Portelli
M. Fenech
Mar 31st 2011, 15:35
@ Frank Portelli You have got no clue about people who spend their lives in Intelligence Service! There is something fishy about all this, so please don't jump itno conclusions or concessions!