The Foreign Secretary William Hague has come under fire for the botched M16 operation in Libya which led to six SAS men and two British spies being detained.
The SAS soldiers and MI6 officers were dropped off by helicopter near Benghazi last Friday to mount a secret mission in Libya. But the plan went embarrassingly wrong when the British team were captured by local rebels suspicious of their intentions.
Hague who personally signed off the mission admitted that s a “serious misunderstanding” had led to it being bungled as he sought to explain himself in the Commons yesterday.
He has been accused of “serial bungling” in wake of the botched mission.
This morning meanwhile it emerged that one of the MI6 officers seized during the covert mission may have been carrying a note signed by David Cameron.
Inspired by former Prime Minister Thatcher who liked to kick-off “difficult negotiations” with personal messages, Cameron hoped that the hand delivered note meant for rebel leaders would help oust Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, reports the Daily Mirror.
A senior Special Forces source told the Daily Mirror “David Cameron … (was) trying to do a Maggie Thatcher and using the SAS regiment as his own tame fighting force.”
“Throughout this flawed mission and the fallout from it, it has been clear the SAS men were not backed up – even when they were rescuing civilians in the desert.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth is reportedly investigating this latest development.
The Coaliton government has faced persistent criticism over his handling of the Libyan crisis as the country slides towards civil war.
Fierce fighting between rebels and government has resulted in a death toll of up to 2,000. Thousands more have fled the country.
