News has just broken that Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa arrived in Britain last night, stating that he was “no longer willing” to work under Colonel Gaddafi’s regime. Koussa was one of the most powerful officials in the country outside of the Gaddafi family. In a statement, a Foreign Office spokesman embraced the move and encouraged other Libyan officials to also abandon the regime.

The arrival of Koussa immediately followed the expulsion of five Libyan diplomats from the country, with British officials quoting security grounds as the motive behind the expulsion order.

Rebels in the country have been pushed back by heavily armed troops loyal to Gaddafi, prompting Britain PM David Cameron to consider supplying arms to the rebel forces. Critics of the move have suggested that this could escalate an all-out civil war and further endanger Western ground troops.

US President Barack Obama is also reported to have courted the idea of supplying arms, as has France’s Nicolas Sarkozy.

Koussa’s departure is being hailed as the tipping point of the regime and is the first higher official to defect since Western air strikes were called into the country. The Libyan government, however, are denying that Koussa has left his post and that his visit to Britain was part of a diplomatic mission. It is understood that Koussa was one of Muammar Gaddafi’s closest allies.

Reported by Zeke Lyons.

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