Government denies rumours that Gaddafi requested passage or asylum in Malta

A senior government spokesman has said that the Maltese government will not accept any requests that ousted Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi might make to land in Malta.

The government said it would arrest Gaddafi and hand him over to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, if he lands in Malta.

The government spokesperson has denied knowledge of alleged requests by the Colonel to abscond to Malta, as rumours floated about in the international media of a possible getaway for Gaddafi.

On Sunday afternoon, two United States Marine Corps Hercules aircrafts made a low flight pass over the Maltese islands as part of the operations in preparation of an eventual evacuation of US citizens who remained in Tripoli.

Following yesterday’s aborted evacuation mission of some 110 Maltese and other EU nationals in Tripoli, an evacuation is expected to go on ahead today.

The Malta-flagged MV Triva, which was expected in Tripoli yesterday, came under fire by Gaddafi forces as it approached Tripoli. The captain was forced to turn back to sea and awaited instructions under NATO escort.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is expected to address the media on the situation in Libya later today while Foreign Minister Tonio Borg is expected to issue a statement.

Meanwhile, government sources have confirmed that the Libyan ambassador to Malta, Saadun Suayeh, has officially relinquished his post as representative of Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.

In a telephone conversation with Borg late last night as events were unfolding in Tripoli, the Libyan ambassador informed the Maltese government that he was authorising the lowering of the Green flag and the hoisting of the revolution flag on the embassy roof in Attard.

It remains unknown what the ambassador’s future plans are in Malta.