'Libya's former number 2 leaves for Italy'

Libya's former number two, Abdessalem Jalloud, left for Italy via Tunisia on Saturday, a senior Tunisian government official told AFP.

Libya's former number two, Abdessalem Jalloud, left for Italy via Tunisia on Saturday, a senior Tunisian government official told AFP.

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Jalloud, who was a former prime minister ostracized from Muammar Gaddafi's regime, had earlier been reported to have fled to rebel-held territory.

He took "a plane for Italy from Djerba airport at 3.40 am (0240 GMT)", an airport official on the resort island told AFP.

The government official said "Jalloud left at dawn from Djerba airport for Italy with his family".

Another source said Gaddafi's former close aide had arrived in Tunisia overnight Friday.

In the Italian capital foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari would not confirm or deny the report.

"We are verifying this information," he said.