Brussels, 27/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Libyan ambassador to the EU and Benelux countries, Ahmed Hadi Hadeiba, announced on 27 May that he had defected with all his co-workers to protest against the repression inflicted on the Libyan population by forces under Muammar Gaddafi. In a press release, the diplomat - who was still declaring his loyalty to Gaddafi only very recently - says that: “after more than four months of blood-letting of our people, my colleagues and I at the Libyan popular bureau in Brussels find ourselves obliged to announce our decision to no longer represent the regime”. He added that he and his staff would “be at the service of the Libyan people in its struggle for democracy, the rule of law and institutions, and the safeguard of the integrity of our country”. The EU has welcomed Ahmed Hadi Hadeiba's defection. A spokeswoman for Catherine Ashton has said: “We praise this courageous decision to work for a democratic Libya and a better future for the Libyan people”. (H.B./transl.jl)