German foreign ministry said on Sunday it had ordered to expel a senior Libyan diplomat because of his loyalty to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Foreign ministry said it had declared Hisham al-Sharif, charge d' affaires in Libya's Berlin embassy 'persona non grata' and ordered him and his family to leave Germany after careful examination with German security authorities.

According to local magazine Focus, Sharif's lawyer argued against the decision, saying this would send him with his wife and two young children to a country in civil war.

Berlin, although opposing military intervention in Libya and not joining in NATO's air raid on Gaddafi's forces, has promised to help oust Gaddafi through peaceful methods.

It has recognized the legitimacy of Libya's rebel council as the country's sole representative and announced a loan of 100 million euros (143 million U.S. dollars) to Libya's rebel council for civil and humanitarian purposes.

On Wednesday, Britain expelled all the staff of Libya's London embassy and asked Libyan rebels to send representatives in London.