UK expels two more Libyan diplomats

UK expels two more Libyan diplomats

2011-05-06 07:08:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- The United Kingdom on Thursday expelled two further Libyan diplomats from the Libyan Embassy in London, days after the Libyan Ambassador was expelled.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he expelled the unidentified Libyan diplomats and their dependents and have been given until Wednesday to leave the country.

"I ordered the expulsion of the two diplomats on the basis that their activities were contrary to the interests of the UK," Hague said, without giving other details. "We keep the status of the Libyan Embassy and its staff under constant review. I judged that the behaviour of these individuals had become unacceptable, and that they should therefore be declared persona non grata."

On Sunday, Hague decided to expel Libyan Ambassador Omar Jelban after an attack on the British Embassy in Tripoli.

"The Vienna Convention requires the Gaddafi regime to protect diplomatic missions in Tripoli," Hague said on Sunday, referring to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. "By failing to do so that regime has once again breached its international responsibilities and obligations. I take the failure to protect such premises very seriously indeed."

Libyan officials claimed the attack was carried out by a group of people who were 'upset' over a NATO airstrike that killed Gaddafi's youngest son and three of his grandchildren.

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