Libya's Ghanem abandons Gaddafi and defects to Tunisia - reports

Shukri Ghanem, the head of the national oil company and Libya's oil minister reportedly crossed into Tunisia by road on Monday and defected.

A security official, who is based in the border region and is not authorised to speak to the press, confirmed the report.

However, Libyan government spokesperson Moussa Ibrahim, denied the defection in an interview with Sky News yesterday night.

Ghanem is one of the most high profile Libyan officials to defect from Colonel Gaddafi 's government since fighting broke out between the Libyan leader and rebels calling for democracy.

His name was included with a list of Gaddafi's officials who were placed under US sanctions in April.

Former Libya representative to the Arab League Abdel Moneim al Houni, who resigned from his position in February, said he spoke to Ghanem after he crossed the border and confirmed the defection.

However, he said no official announcement had been made out of concern for the safety of some of the minister's family members who are still in Tripoli.

Al Houni said: "Most of the officials remaining in Tripoli are forced to stay under intimidation and pressure. They are not happy with what is happening."

Guma El-Gamaty, the London-based spokesman for Libya's Interim National Council, said: "All what we know is that Shukri Ghanem is in Tunisia."