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Libyan foreign minister defects 'on his free will'

Updated: 2011-03-31 21:26

(Xinhua)

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Libyan foreign minister defects 'on his free will'
Libya's Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa holds a news conference in Tripoli in this March 18, 2011 file photo. [Photo/Agencies] 

LONDON - British foreign secretary William Hague, speaking at a press conference Thursday, said that his Libyan counterpart Moussa Koussa came to London from Tunisia "on his free will".

Hague confirmed Koussa has resigned his post as the foreign minister for the Libyan government and defected to London on Wednesday night during his speech on human rights and democracy.

Hague said Koussa is not being offered any diplomatic immunity and is now meeting and talking to several British officials of foreign affairs.

He urged "all of those around and close to Colonel Gaddafi to abandon him" and said that Britain would release further details on Koussa's defection in due course.

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