Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has been questioned by officials after arriving in the UK unexpectedly late on Wednesday.
He flew in from Tunisia. The UK Foreign Office said he was "no longer willing" to work for Colonel Gaddafi.
However a Libyan spokesman denied that Mr Moussa had defected and said he was on a diplomatic mission.
His arrival in the UK comes as Libyan rebels retreat from former strongholds along the eastern coast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12917315
Note: 31 March 2011 Last updated at 06:40 GMT