France admits arming Libyan rebels

A diplomat says France may have violated a UN arms embargo by sending weapons to rebel fighters in Libya.

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Paris/Misrata - France said on Wednesday that it had airlifted weapons to Libya's rebels this month, the first time one of the Nato countries bombing Libya has openly acknowledged arming the insurgents seeking to topple Muammar Gaddafi.

A three-month-old bombing campaign has so far failed to dislodge the Libyan leader, straining the Western alliance. The bombing is justified by a United Nations Security Council resolution authorising force to protect civilians, but Britain, France and the United States say they will not stop until Gaddafi falls.

The rebels' advances have been slow, although they say they have made considerable progress in the past week on the front nearest Tripoli. On Sunday rebels advanced from the mountains southwest of the capital to 80km from the capital.

A French military spokesperson confirmed the delivery of weapons after Le Figaro newspaper cited unnamed sources as saying France had parachuted rocket launchers, assault rifles, machine guns and anti-tank missiles into the western mountains.

“There were humanitarian drops because the humanitarian situation was worsening and at one point it seemed the security situation was threatening civilians who could not defend themselves,” armed forces spokesperson Thierry Burkhard said.

“France therefore also sent equipment allowing them to defend themselves, comprising light weapons and munitions,” he said, adding that the drop also included medicine and food.

The move may violate a UN arms embargo. A UN diplomat familiar with the work of the Security Council committee that oversees enforcement of sanctions on Libya said providing arms to any group in the country could constitute a violation.

“I don't know the details, but it sounds like this would be a violation,” the diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Le Figaro said France's decision to send arms had been taken without consulting Nato partners. It quoted a high-level source saying “there was no other way to proceed”.

There was no immediate rebel comment to the news. France's allies reacted cautiously.

“We as Nato are not engaged in this kind of activity, although it is also well known that there are nations that are doing this so it is not up to me to comment or judge,” Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, head of Nato's military committee, told reporters in Brussels.

Britain, alongside France one of the most active members of the coalition behind the bombing, acknowledged the French move raised questions in the light of a UN mandate which justifies the operation in terms of reducing civilian casualties.

“It does raise quite a few issues, not least the United Nations resolution, although in some circumstances clearly that could be justified,” British Minister for International Security Gerald Howarth told reporters.

“But it is very much a matter for France and no criticism of France (is) intended therein. But it's not something we shall be doing,” he added.

Britain has given the rebels items such as body armour in the past, but has always made a point of saying the aid it gave was “non-lethal”.

As the Nato operation extends beyond 90 days, fissures have appeared in the coalition against Gaddafi, with Italy calling for a suspension to the bombing and US officials complaining about the lack of European firepower.

Dutch Defence Minister Hans Hillen warned Nato allies on Wednesday against “mission creep” and forecast more arguments about the future of its campaign if it lasted beyond September.

“Libya is a very, very big country indeed. People who thought that merely by throwing some bombs it would not only help the people, but also convince Gaddafi that he could step down or alter his policy, were a little bit naive,” he said.

Nato warships off the Libyan coast fired on government forces near the strategic town of Zlitan east of Tripoli, rebels said on Wednesday. Gaddafi's forces have so far successfully blocked the rebels at Zlitan, preventing them from advancing on Tripoli from the east.

“Last night, Nato struck from the sea at Gaddafi's forces positioned in the coastal area,” a rebel spokesperson inside Zlitan, who identified himself as Mabrouk, told Reuters.

“The (pro-Gaddafi) brigades are preparing for the next days. They have stepped up deployment here. They have brought several rocket-launchers. The number of checkpoints is also growing. The situation is getting more difficult.” - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/france-admits-arming-libyan-rebels-1.1090946

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