As this Times article makes clear, things are very uncertain. But at least one senior Libyan official, loyal to the Qaddafi’s, is in London having private meetings. Could there be some negotiation of terms here?
Mohammed Ismail, a senior aide toSeif al-Islam, one of Colonel Qaddafi’s sons, traveled to London for talks with British officials in recent days, the friend said in London on Friday, speaking in return for anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters. The nature and exact timing of the contact was not clear.
The friend said Mr. Ismail planned to return to Tripoli after his discussions. Word of the possible overture coincided with a welter of rumors that more officials planned to defect. A Foreign Office spokesman, who spoke in return for anonymity under departmental procedures, said, “We are not going to provide a running commentary on our contact with Libyan officials.”