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MP calls for Bassingbourn Libyan cadets to go home after sex attacks Libyan cadets sent home early after Cambridge sex assaults
(about 5 hours later)
A Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract to train Libyan soldiers in Cambridgeshire should be terminated and the recruits sent home, an MP has said. Libyan army cadets training in the UK are to be sent home early after two recruits admitted sexually assaulting women in Cambridge.
South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley wrote to the MOD after two Libyans at Bassingbourn Barracks admitted sexually assaulting women in Cambridge. The MoD said the completion date for training of the Libyans at Bassingbourn Barracks had been brought forward.
The "consequences" of allowing soldiers on unescorted trips has been "unacceptable", he said. It said it would also review whether further groups of Libyan recruits should be trained in the UK.
The MoD has yet to to comment on Mr Lansley's letter. The decision came after South Cambridgeshire MP Andrew Lansley wrote to the MoD calling for training to end.
About 300 recruits arrived at the army base in June as part of a government agreement to train up to 2,000 cadets to ensure Libya's security. The consequences of allowing soldiers on unescorted trips had been "unacceptable", he said.
'Repatriate trainees" About 300 recruits arrived at the base in June as part of a government agreement to train up to 2,000 cadets to ensure Libya's security.
At the time the MoD said the recruits would only be allowed on escorted trips.At the time the MoD said the recruits would only be allowed on escorted trips.
However, it has emerged these rules were later relaxed. Last week they were reinstated, the MoD confirmed.However, it has emerged these rules were later relaxed. Last week they were reinstated, the MoD confirmed.
Two of the Libyan recruits at the base admitted carrying out a series of assaults on women in the city's Market Square area on 26 October and are awaiting sentencing. 'Repatriate the trainees'
Conservative Mr Lansley, who represents Bassingbourn, said he was initially supportive of the UK's commitment to train the recruits. Two Libyan recruits admitted carrying out a series of assaults on women in Cambridge's Market Square area on 26 October and are awaiting sentencing.
"It is with regret that I must now say that it has not worked as we had hoped. Conservative Mr Lansley said he initially supported the UK's commitment to train the recruits.
"It is clear that the stipulation that there was to be no unauthorised exit from the base has not been adhered to and the consequences have been unacceptable," he said. "It is with regret that I must now say that it has not worked as we had hoped," he said.
"It is clear that the stipulation that there was to be no unauthorised exit from the base has not been adhered to and the consequences have been unacceptable.
"As I have today expressed to MoD, I now see no alternative but to terminate the contract and repatriate the trainees currently on the base."As I have today expressed to MoD, I now see no alternative but to terminate the contract and repatriate the trainees currently on the base.
"As this stands, no further groups of trainees could be brought here from Libya.""As this stands, no further groups of trainees could be brought here from Libya."
Mr Lansley's office confirmed he had written to Mark Francois, Minister of State for Armed Forces, and the minister with responsibility for Bassingbourn, "this morning". Mr Lansley's office confirmed he had written to Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois on Monday morning.
In a statement, the MoD said: "Training was initially expected to last until the end of November but we have agreed with the Libyan government that it is best for all involved to bring forward the training completion date. The recruits will be returning to Libya in the coming days.
"And as part of our ongoing support for the Libyan government, we will review how best to train Libyan security forces - including whether training further tranches of recruits in the UK is the best way forward."