ROME: Libya’s fugitive ex-prime minister Ali Zeidan has flown to Germany in defiance of a travel ban after changing planes in Malta, Maltese government sources told AFP Wednesday.

Zeidan arrived in Malta on a Libyan state plane Tuesday evening but then switched to a private jet after a brief stopover before departing for Germany, they said.

That version of events differed slightly from the account given by Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in a television interview.

“The plane stopped in Malta for two hours to refuel before proceeding to another European country,” Muscat said.

Libya’s top prosecutor late Tuesday slapped a travel ban on Zeidan because of his suspected involvement in the embezzlement of public funds.

Meanwhile, militia loyal to the Tripoli authorities were advancing on eastern Libya on Wednesday where rebels demanding regional autonomy began exporting oil this week in defiance of the central government.

The premier fled the country as the General National Congress approved a no-confidence motion.

As Zeidan complained repeatedly while in office, real power over the armed forces lies not with the defense minister, but with GNC president Nuri Abu Sahmein, who on Monday ordered the assault on the rebel-held ports.

In the absence of a large enough regular army force to take on the heavily armed rebels, the advance guard of the task force is composed largely of militia loyal to the GNC.