ICHOLAS WATT, JULIAN BORGER & POLLY CURTIS The saga of eight British 'diplomats, who flew into eastern Libya to make contact with rebel forces, turned rapidly into a Dads Army-style farce. David Cameron, who personally authorised the mission, faced embarrassment when the Libyan authorities released intercepted phone calls which showed the operation had a distinctly amateur feel to it. I didnt know how they were coming, Ambassador to Libya Richard Northern, said when an opposition leader suggested that it was unwise for the group to have landed in a helicopter in an open area. The botched operation came as an embarrassment to the British prime minister who has struggled to command Britains response to the Libyan crisis from the outset. Cameron, who authorised the landing, instructed officials to brief on Friday that Britain would be making contact with opposition figures in Libya. This was designed to show that the government was leading the European response to the Libyan crisis after a faltering start. By the end of last week, Downing Street believed the government had established with its allies three key pillars: The need to forge contacts with the rebels, as Britain and its European leaders look to a Libya after Muammar Gaddafi. An agreement to draw up contingency plans for a no-fly zone over Libya. Cameron initially looked isolated when Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, condemned 'loose talk about this. But Barack Obama endorsed the prime ministers position on Thursday evening. Britain and France have persuaded fellow EU leaders to hold an emergency Libya summit on Friday. But the apparently slick British response over the past week was called into question when the first of these pillars appeared to collapse with the failed 'diplomatic mission. This will raise questions about whether the team was despatched too quickly as the PM sought to show he is in command. A Geneva-based human rights group linked to the rebel National Council said the leadership was bemused by the secretive behaviour of the British government. Ahmed el-Gasir, a researcher for the Human Rights Solidarity group, said: If they had wanted to bring a diplomat in, or make contact, they could have come in through the airport or via the seaport. Last week, there was a British warship docked there. Were very surprised that they brought in a secret mission without the permission of the National Council. It was provocative. People there are very sensitive about such issues and for that reason the council did not publicise it, but immediately contacted the foreign office. It was a very stupid act by whoever took this decision. It was not helpful. There are many ways to help. This was not one of them. Sir Menzies Campbell, former Lib Dem leader, told Sky news: I think there will be some embarrassment A lot of effort obviously went into that, and they appear to have come away empty-handed. Guardian