The fate of Libyan ambassador to Zimbabwe Taher Elmagrahi was hanging in the balance after government said his status was no longer legal.

Elmagrahi, a known confidante of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, defected and shifted his allegiance to the rebels last week after it became apparent the Nato-led rebellion was ousting former strongman Gaddafi.

Secretary for Foreign Affairs Joey Bimha said Elmagrahi was still in the country, but his fate would be decided after a meeting with him. Bimha said after his defection, the envoy was now here illegally.

“His status is no longer legal,” Bimha told NewsDay.

“That is normal practice. If you have no legal status in a country, what do you do? He has to go.”

Bimha said the Zimbabwean government, just like the African Union, did not recognise the rebel-led National Transitional Council.

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