UK to expel five Libyan diplomats

Mr Hague said the diplomats could pose a “threat” to national security

The UK has taken steps to expel five Libyan diplomats, Foreign Secretary William Hague has said.

Updating MPs on the crisis, he said they “could pose a threat” to national security.

Meanwhile, David Cameron said the UK was not ruling out providing arms to rebels in “certain circumstances” but no decision had yet been taken.

He said it might be allowed under the original UN resolution which authorised the allies’ military action.

Earlier, the prime minister’s official spokesman rejected suggestions the UK’s stance on supplying weapons had shifted.

It comes after the allies held a summit in London on Tuesday to discuss Libya’s future.

The coalition military action is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi. It has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance.

Mr Hague said: “To underline our grave concern at the [Gaddafi] regime’s behaviour, I can announce to the House that we have today taken steps to expel five diplomats at the Libyan embassy in London, including the military attache.

“The government also judged that were these individuals to remain in Britain, they could pose a threat to our security.”

At Prime Minister’s Questions Mr Cameron said the UN resolutions “would not necessarily rule out the provision of assistance to those protecting civilians in certain circumstances”.

He said: “The legal position is clear that the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of Libya.

“But at the same time UNSCR 1973 allows all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas… We do not rule it out but we have not taken the decision to do so.”

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