Encouraging Moussa Koussa

[The following is an extract from a report on the BBC News website on UK Foreign Secretary William Hague's statement in the House of Commons today:]

Libyan politicians fleeing to the UK who break "definitively" from the Gaddafi regime could have restrictions on them lifted, William Hague has said.

The foreign secretary promised to treat those abandoning Libya with respect but said they would not receive immunity.

He said last week's departure of ex-Libyan foreign minister Moussa Koussa to the UK "weakened" the regime. (...)

Mr Koussa was refused formal leave to enter the UK but granted temporary admission when he flew in on Wednesday, Mr Hague said.

Mr Hague said Moussa Koussa, who fled to the UK last week, had not been granted any immunity.

The foreign secretary said the government would encourage him to co-operate fully with all requests made by the police and other investigating authorities, stemming from Libya's past sponsorship of terrorism.

[A further BBC News report contains the following:]

William Hague has urged Libya's former foreign minister to co-operate fully with Scottish prosecutors over the Lockerbie bombing. (...)

He was a Libyan intelligence head at the time of the bombing in 1988.

In a statement, Mr Hague said Moussa Koussa was not being detained by UK authorities.

Mr Koussa has been giving information to British officials about the current Libyan situation after saying he was no longer prepared to represent the Libyan regime.

[So there we have it. It is up to Moussa Koussa whether he will speak to Scottish police and prosecutors. But the UK Government will encourage him to do so. Was the Scots' trip to London really worth it?]