Libyan expatriates loyal to its despotic ruler are mulling over carrying out a terrorist attack inside Britain in retaliation for UK military intervention in Libya.
Senior government sources have warned that supporters of Muammar Qaddafi may attempt to launch a terrorist attack on UK soil in response to the British government's push for military action to topple the Libyan regime, the daily Independent has learned.
The security services have told cabinet ministers that they recently managed to intercept several conversations between British-based Libyans, in which they suggested plotting a revenge attack inside the UK, said the report.
According to the report, the security services obtained and recorded the intelligence shortly before the start of the no-fly zone operation, and passed it to NATO allies.
A bombing campaign was unleashed against Libya last week after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution drafted by Britain and France to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians in the battle between Qaddafi troops and revolutionary forces fighting for democracy in a country led by a long-time dictatorship.
One man, who was under surveillance by MI5, is reported to have been recorded saying: "We must fight, we must be dedicated to give support [to Muammar Qaddafi]."
Britain's intelligence service MI5 rated the intelligence cited in the warning as "reliable", the newspaper reported.
Separately, a senior minister told The Independent that they had been warned about a growing terrorist threat over the longer term from pro-Qaddafi supporters based in the UK.
But the security services do not believe any action is imminent. A Home Office spokesman declined to comment on the reports.
Although the bombing campaign against Libya was launched by a coalition of voluntary Western nations, now differences have emerged over future of invasion and its command.
A row between Turkey and France over the NATO role in the military intervention has led to failure of attempts to reach consensus on a new command structure.
NATO ambassadors was discussing a draft plan in Brussels under which NATO commanders would have been guided by a political committee featuring representatives from not just the West but also, crucially, the Arab countries.
But the talks broke up after Turkey insisted on NATO playing a precise role, and France seeking a looser coalition using NATO's military command structures.
MOL/HE
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