The British government currently has no diplomatic staff based in Tripoli Expelled Libyan diplomat departs
The British government currently has no diplomatic staff based in Tripoli The Foreign Office is investigating reports that the residence of the British ambassador in Tripoli has been “destroyed”.
It said in a statement that it believed other foreign residences had also been attacked.
“Such actions, if confirmed, would be deplorable as the Gaddafi regime has a duty to protect diplomatic missions,” said the Foreign Office.
It added that the UK currently had no diplomats in the Libyan capital.
Instead the UK has a diplomatic presence in Benghazi, the largest city in the rebel-held east of the country.
Meanwhile, the BBC’s Kate Peters in Tripoli said the United Nations was pulling out all its international staff from the city.
The reports of the attack on the British residence – which the BBC understands come from sources on the ground – come after the Libyan government said a Nato air strike on Tripoli had killed a son of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
“The targeting policy of Nato and the alliance is absolutely clear”
David Cameron Prime MinisterNato strike ‘kills Gaddafi’s son’
Saif al-Arab and three of Col Gaddafi’s grandchildren are reported to have died at their villa in the Bab al-Aziziya compound.
A spokesman for the regime said the Libyan leader himself was in the villa at the time but was unharmed.
Nato said it had hit a “known command-and-control building” in the area, adding it did not “target individuals”.
Prime Minister David Cameron also defended Nato’s operations in Libya.
“The targeting policy of Nato and the alliance is absolutely clear,” he told the BBC.
“It is in line with UN resolution 1973, and it is about preventing a loss of civilian life by targeting Gaddafi’s war-making machine.”
Mr Cameron did not comment on whether British aircraft were involved in the attack that reportedly killed Col Gaddafi’s son.
The UK has taken a lead role in military action against Libyan government forces since the UN Security Council voted on 17 March to use all means necessary – short of foreign occupation – to protect civilians in the country.
This has taken the form of attacks by RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets, and missiles fired from Royal Navy submarines.
The RAF is also continuing to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.
In addition, the UK has sent British military advisors to the rebels.
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