Britain's MI6 and Gaddafi regime 'cooperated'

[dutchman]

British intelligence cooperated closely with Muammar Gaddafi's regime, according to reports based on documents found in Libyan government offices.



The papers apparently show that MI6 gave the Gaddafi regime information on Libyan dissidents living in the UK.

They also contain communications between British and Libyan security ahead of then prime minister Tony Blair's desert tent meeting with Gaddafi in 2004.

Britain is said to have helped the Libyan dictator with his speech-writing.

The documents, discovered in the Tripoli offices of former head of Libyan intelligence Musa Kusa, also contain communications between the CIA and the Gaddafi regime.

The Foreign Office said it did not comment on intelligence matters.

Asked about the claims, Foreign Secretary William Hague said "all our discussions" were focused on plans for the future of Libya.

"On the subject of these apparent disclosures, first of all they relate to a period under the previous government so I have no knowledge of those, of what was happening behind the scenes at that time," he told Sky News.

"Also we don't comment, I can't comment on intelligence matters on that or any other aspect of intelligence matters because, as people understand, once we start on that there's no end to that."