Colonel Gaddafi may be on his way to Venezuela, Foreign Secretary William Hague has suggested.
Leaving talks in Brussels after agreeing an EU statement demanding restraint and an end to violence by the Libyan regime, Mr Hague said he had no firm knowledge but went on: "I have seen some information that suggests he is on his way there at the moment."
British officials indicated the Foreign Secretary was not referring to any media speculation but other sources.
Earlier Mr Hague said he had phoned Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam to object to the use of the force, and added: "The son is clearly very much in Libya, but I have no evidence as to the whereabouts of Gaddafi himself".
During a day of talks on an EU response to the Libyan crisis, all EU foreign ministers were being kept updated, but only Mr Hague seemed confident enough to volunteer a likely bolthole for the Libyan leader.
The Foreign Secretary also spoke of an historic opportunity for the European Union in tackling not just the Libyan situation, but the unfolding chain of popular rebellion across North Africa and the Middle-East.
"This is a major, historic test for the EU.
"Clearly if we can succeed in bringing more democracy and more stability to Northern Africa and the wider Middle East, that will be the greatest achievement for the EU since its enlargement." He was referring to the EU's enlargement to 27 countries, embracing the former eastern Europe.
"If we don't succeed, the dangers for the EU of instability and extremism on our frontiers are immense."
