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Libya conflict: Ministers consider options Libya conflict: UK ministers consider options
(40 minutes later)
Ministers are considering their options in Libya amid signs opposition forces now control large parts of the country.Ministers are considering their options in Libya amid signs opposition forces now control large parts of the country.
Downing Street sources said there were no further details about the whereabouts of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has chaired a meeting of the National Security Council, has said the Gaddafi regime is "in its death throes".Foreign Secretary William Hague, who has chaired a meeting of the National Security Council, has said the Gaddafi regime is "in its death throes".
Rebel forces captured the Libyan leader's compound in the heart of Tripoli and expect to detain him soon. The UK is also talking to humanitarian agencies about how to get emergency medical supplies into Tripoli.
But Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has urged forces loyal to him to continue fighting and to "cleanse the city". Aid groups have warned that the city's hospitals and medical centres have been "overwhelmed with casualties" and that medicine and fuel supplies are running low.
The whereabouts of the Libyan leader and his sons are unclear. Rebel forces have captured the Libyan leader's compound in the heart of Tripoli and say they expect to detain him soon, but Col Gaddafi has said he has made a tactical retreat and has urged forces loyal to him to continue fighting to "cleanse the city".
After rebels seized his compound, Col Gaddafi said he had made a tactical retreat and made a speech vowing death or victory in the fight against "aggression". The United Nation's envoy in Tripoli has said that opposition forces now control the vast majority of the capital, but there are reports of pockets of resistance from pro-Gaddafi forces as well as continued fighting in other Libyan cities.
The UN's envoy in Tripoli has said that opposition forces now control the vast majority of the capital but there are reports of pockets of resistance from pro-Gaddafi forces in Tripoli as well as continued fighting in other Libyan cities. Mr Hague, other senior ministers and military chiefs discussed unfolding events at Wednesday's National Security Council meeting - the third to be held in consecutive days over Libya.
Mr Hague, other senior ministers and military chiefs have discussed unfolding events at Wednesday's National Security Council meeting - the third to be held in consecutive days over Libya.
Battle for TripoliBattle for Tripoli
Mr Hague said on Tuesday that the battle for Tripoli was "not yet over" but said the regime was losing its grip on power. He dismissed claims that it was mounting a fightback as a "fantasy".Mr Hague said on Tuesday that the battle for Tripoli was "not yet over" but said the regime was losing its grip on power. He dismissed claims that it was mounting a fightback as a "fantasy".
The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said he expected ministers to strike a more confident tone about the outcome of the six-month battle for power.The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said he expected ministers to strike a more confident tone about the outcome of the six-month battle for power.
The UK has taken a lead role in Nato's military action against the apparatus of the Gaddafi regime, in accordance with a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians.The UK has taken a lead role in Nato's military action against the apparatus of the Gaddafi regime, in accordance with a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
Nato has said military operations will continue until all pro-Gaddafi forces surrender.Nato has said military operations will continue until all pro-Gaddafi forces surrender.
The UK has also been providing logistical advice and training to the anti-Gaddafi forces and has said it is prepared to unfreeze Libyan assets and provide humanitarian aid as well as providing other support to help stabilise the country.The UK has also been providing logistical advice and training to the anti-Gaddafi forces and has said it is prepared to unfreeze Libyan assets and provide humanitarian aid as well as providing other support to help stabilise the country.
But it has effectively ruled out sending in ground troops as part of a transition to a new government.But it has effectively ruled out sending in ground troops as part of a transition to a new government.
Our correspondent said the reality remained that the ability of the UK government to influence the pace of events on the ground was limited and ministers may believe it was too early to issue detailed plans for the transition to a post-Gaddafi Libya. Our correspondent said the reality remained that the ability of the UK government to influence the pace of events on the ground was limited and ministers may believe it is too early to issue detailed plans for the transition to a post-Gaddafi Libya.
Ministers also have to consider the safety of the remaining British citizens in Libya, he added, amid reports that up to 30 foreign nationals, including a US congressman, are being prevented from leaving a hotel in the centre of the city by armed guards. Ministers also have to consider the safety of the remaining British citizens in Libya, he added, amid reports that up to 30 foreign nationals, including journalists and a US congressman, are being prevented from leaving a hotel in the centre of the city by armed guards.
One security expert said he expected there to be continued attacks from remnants of the regime over the coming days and weeks. Security experts said they expected there to be continued attacks from remnants of the regime over the coming days and weeks amid fears of reprisals should pro-Gaddafi forces lay down their arms.
Leading figures from the National Transitional Council, the opposition political authority, are expected to travel to Tripoli soon to begin the process of assuming power.
'Significant challenges''Significant challenges'
For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said it was clear the days of Gaddafi rule were over and that he was "on the run".For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said it was clear the days of Gaddafi rule were over and that he was "on the run".
But he said there was a lot of work to be done to bring stability to the country, to disarm combatants and to ensure the Libyan people could get access to basic amenities.But he said there was a lot of work to be done to bring stability to the country, to disarm combatants and to ensure the Libyan people could get access to basic amenities.
"Taking a city is not the same as running a city," he told the BBC. "Taking a city is not the same as running a city," he told the BBC. "The National Transitional Council faces an important and significant challenge in translating a popular uprising into stable government for Libya."
"The National Transitional Council faces an important and significant challenge in translating a popular uprising into stable government for Libya."
Mr Alexander said the UK could play a role in supporting what he said must be a Libyan-led process in developing new constitutional arrangements for the country.Mr Alexander said the UK could play a role in supporting what he said must be a Libyan-led process in developing new constitutional arrangements for the country.
But the only Conservative MP to vote against military intervention in Libya has continued to question the motives behind the campaign.
John Baron described the action as the "longest assassination attempt in history" and said he remained concerned that successors to the Gaddafi regime might not prove committed to democracy.