PM in independent inquiry pledge on ‘trading secrets’ with Gaddafi

Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs yesterday that the allegations were “significant” and would be examined very carefully by Sir Peter Gibson’s inquiry, which was set up last year to consider suggestions of UK involvement in the mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay inmates.

Documents discovered in the Libyan capital Tripoli apparently indicate that the UK provided intelligence on British-based Libyans to Gaddafi’s security forces in return for disclosures of terror suspects detained in the north African country’s prisons.

Mr Cameron said that the former Labour administration may have been too credulous and gullible in its dealings with Gaddafi’s regime, but he cautioned against rushing to judgment on Britain’s security and intelligence agencies, MI5 and MI6.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Parliament’s cross-party intelligence and security committee, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, said he was seeking clarification from the agencies about the extent of intelligence-sharing with Libyan authorities.

Victorious rebel forces converged on Gaddafi’s last strongholds in Libya yesterday, although they extended to Saturday a deadline for the surrender of Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte and other loyalist areas.

The dictator’s whereabouts remained a mystery, causing Mr Cameron to warn that the safety and security of Libyans remained under threat until he was found.

The Prime Minister insisted there must be “no bolt-hole, no pampered hiding place from justice” for Gaddafi, adding: “We will not let up until the job is done.”

But aides later stressed that no British ground troops were being sent in to help the search.