Moussa Koussa, the former Libyan foreign minister, may not come back to the UK amid concerns he could face prosecution for terrorist offences, sources have suggested.
Last week, Moussa Koussa was interviewed by Scottish police over his involvement as Col Muammar Gaddafi's spy chief in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988 Photo: AP
By James Kirkup, Damien McElroy in Cairo 9:00PM BST 14 Apr 2011
Mr Koussa was on Thursday night still in Qatar after attending a one-day conference on Libya on Wednesday. British and Arab diplomats said it was possible he could decide not to return to Britain, where campaigners want him to account for his role in the regime of Col Muammar Gaddafi.
The prospect of Mr Koussa choosing not to return came on the day that he was removed from a European Union sanctions list, giving him free access to financial assets held in European banks.
Allowing Mr Koussa, a former Libyan intelligence chief, to take up residence elsewhere would anger those who believe he should stand trial in the West. He quit the Tripoli regime earlier this month and flew to London, where he has been questioned by MI6 officers at a Government safe house. He has also been questioned by Scottish authorities in connection with the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which was carried out by Libyan agents.
William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, signalled last week that Mr Koussa could be allowed to leave Britain to live elsewhere when MI6 has finished questioning him.
British diplomats said that since Mr Koussa was never formally detained in the UK, he was free to decide whether to return. It is understood that Mr Koussa has told MI6that he plans to return to London, where several members of his family are based.
However, officials admitted that there was no certainty that he would do so. "We'll just have to see if he keeps his word and comes back," said one. "Ultimately, it's up to him."
After attending Wednesday's "contact group" meeting on Libya, Mr Koussa remained in Doha as a guest of the Qatari royal family.
Another defector, Abdulrahman Shalgam, the former Libyan ambassador to the United Nations, is said to have been putting pressure on Mr Koussa to consider leaving Britain.
Sources said Mr Shalgam has been "exploring options" for Mr Koussa. An Arab diplomat said that Morocco could emerge as his permanent home.
Diplomats said Mr Koussa had been removed from the EU sanctions list as a reward for defecting, and to encourage other members of the Gaddafi regime to follow suit.
Robert Halfon, a Conservative MP who has called for Mr Koussa to face trial, said it was wrong to lift the sanctions. "Many people in Britain will be astonished by this action, because Moussa Koussa has yet to face a judicial process for his alleged crimes against humanity," Mr Halfon said.
"If he is to travel within Europe, it should be to The Hague and the International Criminal Court, where he should stand trial for his alleged crimes."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed that the sanctions had been lifted. A spokesman said: "Sanctions are introduced to invoke behavioural change and as Moussa Koussa has chosen to leave the regime he is no longer sanctioned in this way."
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