Libya’s Foreign Minister has not been offered immunity following his unexpected arrival in Britain, London said yesterday, while urging other members of Muammar Gaddafi’s “crumbling” regime to quit.
Mussa Kussa, a former head of Libyan intelligence and one-time ambassador to Britain, arrived “under his own free will” at Farnborough airport southwest of London on Wednesday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
He was being questioned by British officials, but Mr Hague insisted that Mr Kussa, who has been accused of masterminding the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, had not been offered immunity from prosecution.
“Mussa Kussa is not being offered any immunity from British or international justice,” Mr Hague told reporters.
The 59-year-old Libyan flew to Britain with his son from Tunisia, where he had spent two days on what Tripoli had officially described as a private visit.
Col Gaddafi’s government, embroiled in a war with rebel fighters against his 42-year rule, later shrugged off the resignation by saying the regime “does not depend on individuals.” Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, speaking at a press conference in Tripoli yesterday, confirmed the resignation of Mr Kussa and said he was allowed to leave the country for medical treatment in neighbouring Tunisia.
Mr Hague said the Western-educated Mr Kussa had told British officials he was resigning from his job, adding that he was now being held in a “secure place” while they discussed “his options and our options”.
A senior administration official in the US, which with Britain and France has led air strikes to protect civilians from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces, said Mr Kussa’s resignation showed “the writing’s on the wall” for the regime.
The US said yesterday Mr Kussa could provide vital information about the Libyan leader. Mr Kussa has a chequered history of ties with Britain.
As head of Libyan intelligence for 15 years before becoming Foreign Minister in March 2009, he is credited with convincing Col Gaddafi to dismantle his nuclear weapons programme and renew ties with the West, including Britain.