PARIS/AJDABIYA – Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa arrived in Britain on Wednesday, telling the British government that he had resigned from his post, as disagreement over arming the rebels battling Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi emerged with at least three of the countries enforcing the no-fly zone over the country opposing the idea.
Russia also criticised the proposal, amid dissent within NATO over the conduct of the whole Libyan operation. Both France and the US have raised the possibility of arming the rebels though critics have said such a move would go beyond the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which provides for the protection of civilians.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe on Tuesday said Paris was prepared to discuss with its allies the supply of military aid to the rebels, whose disorganised fighters are facing stiff opposition from Gaddafi’s forces despite being aided by coalition air strikes.
Speaking at an international conference in London, Juppe conceded that that arming or training the rebels was not covered by two UN Security Council resolutions on Libya in recent weeks. “This is not allowed by either Resolution 1973 or Resolution 1970. For the time being, France is sticking to the strict application of these resolutions,” he said.
“Having said that, we are prepared to discuss this with our partners,” he told reporters. British Prime Minister David Cameron refused to rule out arming the rebels. Meanwhile, the battered Libyan rebels, driven back some 200 kilometres by the superior firepower of Gaddafi’s forces, were cheered by the first airstrike in two days against loyalist positions in the east.
Gaddafi’s forces overran the towns of Ras Lanuf, Uqayla and Brega, scattering outgunned rebels.
