British embassy attacked, Libyan ambassador expelled

The Libyan ambassador to the UK has been expelled following attacks on British embassy premises in Tripoli, the foreign secretary has said.

William Hague said Omar Jelban was "persona non grata" and had been given 24 hours to leave the country.

Foreign missions in Libya's capital have been targeted by crowds angry at reports that a Nato air strike had killed a son of Col Muammar Gaddafi.

The UK currently has no diplomats in the Libyan capital.

Mr Hague said: "The Vienna Convention requires the Gaddafi regime to protect diplomatic missions in Tripoli.

"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."

Meanwhile, the United Nations said it was withdrawing all its international staff from Tripoli after some of its facilities in the city were also attacked by angry crowds.

The British embassy in Tripoli is currently split over two locations. It is reported to be the embassy at the site of the UK ambassador's residence in the city that has been attacked.

The BBC's Christian Fraser said he and his colleagues had been unable to visit to verify the extent of the damage. This was because their movement was being restricted by Libyan authorities.

'Absolutely clear'

Col Gaddafi's son Saif al-Arab is reported to have died at his villa in the Bab al-Aziziya compound. He had a lower profile than most of his brothers, particularly Saif al-Islam, who studied at the London School of Economics and has issued several public statements since the uprising began.

Saif al-Arab had only recently returned to Libya after studying in Germany.

A spokesman for the regime said the Libyan leader himself was in the villa at the time but was unharmed. However, he added that three of Col Gaddafi's grandchildren had also been killed in the attack.

Nato said it had hit a "known command-and-control building" in the area, adding it did not "target individuals".

Prime Minister David Cameron earlier defended Nato's operations in Libya.

"The targeting policy of Nato and the alliance is absolutely clear," he told the BBC.

"It is in line with UN resolution 1973, and it is about preventing a loss of civilian life by targeting Gaddafi's war-making machine."

Mr Cameron did not comment on whether British aircraft were involved in the attack that reportedly killed Col Gaddafi's son.

UK involvement

The UK has taken a lead role in military action against Libyan government forces since the UN Security Council voted on 17 March to use all means necessary - short of foreign occupation - to protect civilians in the country.

This has taken the form of attacks by RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets, and missiles fired from Royal Navy submarines.

The RAF is also continuing to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya.

In addition, the UK has sent British military advisers to the rebels.