Last updated at 10:33 AM on 29th March 2011
David Cameron will tell world leaders they must put Colonel Gaddafi on trial and back Libyan rebels at a crisis conference in London today.
The Prime Minister will reject a plan by Italy and Germany to let the tyrant go into exile and dodge war crimes charges.
MI6 officials and the SAS are in close contact with Libyan opposition leaders as the 'endgame' for Gaddafi's regime is plotted, senior officials confirmed last night.
No escape: Prime Minister David Cameron will push for Colonel Gaddafi to face trial for war crimes, rather than be allowed into exile, as disputed plans to ease the Libyan transition are put forward by Italy and Germany
Then, two MI6 officers and their SAS bodyguards were held at gunpoint by Libyan farmers.
Sources said there are also 'military contacts' with the rebels – code for Special Forces soldiers discussing targeting Gaddafi's military with them.
Downing Street officials yesterday made clear that Britain wants Gaddafi to stand trial at the International Criminal Court.
RAPE VICTIM 'HELD HOSTAGE'
A woman who said she was gang raped by Gaddafi's troops is being held hostage at his compound in Tripoli, her parents claimed last night.Iman al-Obeidi, above, was dragged away by government minders when she rushed into a hotel in the Libyan capital on Saturday seeking to tell foreign reporters about the incident.
Libyan officials say she was then set free and was staying with her sister.
But yesterday her mother said she had been telephoned by an unidentified caller, purportedly from the Gaddafi camp, telling her that Miss al-Obeidi is being held at the Bab Al-Aziziya compound.
She said she was asked to make her daughter change the rape claim in return for freedom.
The caller allegedly added: 'Whatever you ask for, you will get: build a new house or get the money.'
Mr Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy last night issued a joint letter, saying: 'We call on all his followers to leave him before it is too late.
'We call on all Libyans who believe that Gaddafi is leading Libya into a disaster to take the initiative now to organise a transition process.'
The letter also urges the 40 countries attending the summit to work with the Libyan opposition to set up democratic elections.
'In our view, this could include the (rebels') Interim National Transitional Council, the pioneering role of which we recognise,' the letter says.
Rebel leaders with the Council will meet world leaders in London today, though they will not attend the conference.
Mr Cameron told MPs yesterday: 'We are now in proper contact with the rebels. Foreign office officials are having contact with them.'
At today's summit, Britain and France are expected to have to face down calls from other EU nations for a ceasefire.
Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini said Italy had been working with Turkey to push for an end to military action.
The Italian government, backed by Germany, is also in talks with the African Union and the Arab League about the possibility of granting exile to Gaddafi.
The summit will include the foreign ministers of every country involved in the military alliance, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, several Arab nations and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
Yesterday the U.S. confirmed that it will be pulling out its ships from the Mediterranean as Nato takes command of the air strikes on Libya.Continued
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