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Gaddafi Regime Officials Cross Tunisia Border To Defect
Gaddafi Regime Officials Cross Tunisia Border To Defect
Libya leader Muamar Gaddafi's regime has suffered a blow with his foreign minister having defected to the UK and another two officials believed to have fled across the Libyan border into Tunisia.
Image of the Gulfstream 200 jet used by the CIA to ferry Gaddafi Regime's foreign minister Mousa Kousa from Tunisia to the UK.
Scoop News: Intercepts of
military communications suggest Mousa Kousa was ferried by
the CIA onboard a Gulfstream 200 jet (registered tail
number HB-JGL) from Tunisia's Djerba Zarzis
International Airport to Farnborough Airport in the United
Kingdom. The route heading was northward, crossing Malta
airspace and onto the UK. Shortly after landing in the UK,
Gaddafi's foreign minister stated he wished to defect and
was no longer willing to represent the Gaddafi
regime.
Soon after, Gaddafi's government issued a statement that Kousa was on a diplomatic mission tot he UK and had not defected.
Information coming in suggests Kousa had been in communication with the United States' Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and had been promised safe passage for him and his family should he defect.
Gaddafi's chief of Intel Umar Abu Zayd Durdah is believed to also have been in discussions with US officials.
Also, it is believed multiple defections have occurred, with no less than 32 Libya Government vehicles having crossed the border into Tunisia in the past 48 hours. Communications intercepts suggest among the defectors are top Gaddafi intelligence official Muhammad Abu Al Qassim Al Zawi and Abu Ati Al Ubaydi.
Earlier, Reuters reported - President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing covert U.S. government support for rebel forces seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, government officials told Reuters on Wednesday. Obama signed the order, known as a presidential "finding", within the last two or three weeks, according to government sources familiar with the matter.
- SEE ALSO:UK Foreign Office Statement On Defection
- FOR MORE: SCOOP'S Libya LIVE Update
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