A FORMER bouncer from Scotland has told how he joined the rebel forces in Libya to overthrow the Gaddafi dictatorship.

Libyan-born Ragab Ballali described how he had been exiled in Scotland for more than 30 years during a television news interview yesterday.

Speaking with a strong Edinburgh accent, Mr Ballali spoke to reporters in the desert area of Nawfaliyah and told of the country’s struggles under the former regime, and how he felt compelled to join the revolution.

Mr Ballali, who said he comes from Tripoli, is one of many people from ordinary walks of life who have joined the rebel fighters as they continue to gain key strongholds across Libya from the pro-Gaddafi forces.

“The people here have had it for long. There’s nothing to be gained from (Gaddafi’s forces) fighting us.

“It’s my country and I have not been able to live here for 31 years.

“I thought there must be something I could do to stop this guy having a grip on power.”

Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has announced a team of diplomatic and technical staff have arrived in Tripoli to work towards reopening the British Embassy.

The staff are in the Libyan capital preparing to re-establish Britain’s diplomatic presence in the country.

British Embassy staff had been evacuated from Tripoli in February as trouble escalated in the so-called Arab Spring.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: “This reflects the recent military progress.”

No date has been set for the British Embassy to open.