London, Sep 6 (IANS): British Foreign Secretary William Hague has confirmed that Britain has sent a team on a diplomatic mission to Libyan capital Tripoli.

A diplomatic team, led by acting Special Representative Dominic Asquith, reached Tripoli Monday, Hague was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Hague said the team included staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID). It would join a small FCO-led advance party that was deployed to Tripoli last week.

The foreign secretary said the arrival of the team marked another significant step in Britain's relations with the new Libya.

It also reflected the progress the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) has made in improving security and stability on the ground, he said.

"It (the diplomatic mission) will help strengthen relations with the NTC authorities and support their efforts to rebuild Libya. The team will also liaise with international organisations to help address humanitarian needs in Tripoli and surrounding areas," Hague said.

Meanwhile, media reports from Libya's southern neighbouring country of Niger said that Mansour Dhao, the chief of Muammar Gaddafi's security brigade, and several others crossed into Niger Sunday.