Gaddafi regime in full retreat: Cameron

After a meeting of the National Security Council on Libya, the Prime Minister said the latest information indicated “the vast majority” of Tripoli was now in rebels’ hands.

While there was no confirmation of Gaddafi’s whereabouts, at least two of his sons had been detained, Mr Cameron said outside Number 10.

“His regime is falling apart and is in full retreat,” Mr Cameron said.

“Gaddafi must stop fighting, without conditions, and clearly show that he has given up any claim to control Libya.”

He added that Gaddafi’s future should be put in the hands of the new Libyan authorities.

Mr Cameron went on: “The situation in Tripoli is clearly very fluid and there is absolutely no room for complacency.

“Our task now is to do all we can to support the will of the Libyan people which is for an effective transition to a free, democratic and inclusive Libya.

“This will be and must be and should be Libyan-led and a Libyan- owned process with broad international support co-ordinated by the United Nations.

“Clearly the immediate priority today is to establish security in Tripoli.”

The Prime Minister said the Government would establish a “diplomatic presence” in Tripoli as soon as it was safe to do so.

He also said the UK could be “proud” of its role in helping the uprising against Gaddafi.

Assets which had been frozen under the Gaddafi regime would be released to the Libyan people soon, he added.

Mr Cameron praised the work of the British military and the “incredible bravery” of the RAF’s pilots.

He added: “This has not been our revolution, but we can be proud that we have played our part.

“There will undoubtedly be difficult days ahead. No transition is ever smooth or easy.

“But today the Arab Spring is a step further away from oppression and dictatorship and a step closer to freedom and democracy and the Libyan people are closer to their dream of a better future.”

The Premier said he would “like to see Colonel Gaddafi face justice” for his “appalling crimes against his own people” but it was for the Libyans to decide what would happen.

He said: “Libya is a sovereign nation. It is a matter for the new authorities in Libya to do what they believe is right with Gaddafi.

“First, obviously, they have to find him. We don’t know where Gaddafi is, we don’t know whether he is still in Libya, and clearly this is going to be some time before we are fully aware of it.”

Defence Secretary Liam Fox, speaking at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, said he welcomed the news from Libya.

“We said all along what we were doing was necessary, legal and right. It’s a vindication of that position,” he said.

“Of course, it is now for the Libyan people to determine their own future - they are at a crossroads and it is not an easy situation for them.”

Dr Fox said Nato forces were not involved in bombing operations.

“We will still be maintaining air operations as there are threats from the remnants of Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.”

He added that British advisers to the NTC would remain but he added: “There are no plans for British forces to be on the ground.”

Delivering a speech in London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “The advances made by the Free Libya Forces in Tripoli would have been unthinkable just a few months ago.

“Unimaginable, even, for the generations of young Libyans who have never known a world without Gaddafi. Now, that world is within their reach.

“The momentum for change is breathtaking and, for the cynics who said change wasn’t possible, who had written off the Libyan uprising, written off the Arab Spring, clearly, they were wrong. The movement for freedom hasn’t been stamped out. It’s alive and kicking, and it’s here to stay.

“So today I want to be absolutely clear: The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with the millions of citizens across the Arab world, who are looking to open up their societies, looking for a better life.”

Mahmud Nacua, Libyan charge d’affaires to Britain, hailed developments in the country, declaring it a “great day”.

Flanked by jubilant young Libyans who shouted over parts of his statement, Mr Nacua emerged from the embassy today to tell waiting journalists that Gaddafi’s regime had “folded the last page”.

He said: “We are going to build a democratic country, we are proud of what our fighters have done.”

Mr Nacua said the “heavy machinery” of the dictator’s rule had been brought down, and that Libya would now have a “new face”.

Dr Fox added that any leads about where Gaddafi is would be followed up over the coming days.

“There are a range of different views about where Gaddafi is and none of them have shown to be accurate yet,” he told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One.

“We will obviously be pursuing in the days ahead every lead as to where Gaddafi may be. There are stories he has fled Libya already, there are other stories that he is holed up inside the city itself.

“It’s impossible to know which of these are true at the moment.”

Mr Nacua later told reporters outside the Libyan embassy in London that the international community will have a continuing role during the transitional period now facing Libya, especially in unfreezing assets in foreign countries.

He said: “I would like to thank Mr Cameron and his colleagues very much for what they have done to help Libyan people, to save many souls, to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s heavy machines, and we are very grateful for their firm stand from the beginning of the crisis until now.”