Libya rebels win backing of world powers in Doha

Doha, Wednesday

World powers rallied behind Libyan rebels as they appeared on a global stage for the first time today, with Italy and Qatar saying they need weapons to defend themselves and Britain pressing for urgent regional aid.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, warned at the Libya contact group meeting in Doha that as many as 3.6 million people, or more than half of Libya’s population, could need humanitarian assistance.

Ban also urged the international community to “speak with one voice” on Libya, as a rift appeared to be opening between EU partners, with Belgium expressing opposition to arming the rebels and Germany insisting there could be “no military solution.”

“The discussion about arming the rebels is definitely on the table ... to defend themselves,” Italy’s Maurizio Massari said ahead of the Doha meeting.

“We need to provide the rebels all possible defensive means,” he said, singling out communication and intelligence equipment.

Qatar’s crown prince, also addressing the gathering of some 20 countries and international organisations, said the Libyan people must be supplied with the means to defend themselves.
“The main aim of our meeting is to help the Libyan people decide their own fate... and to help the Libyan people defend themselves so they can decide on their future,” said Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

However, Belgian Foreign minister Steven Vanackere said: “The UN resolution speaks about protecting civilians, not arming them.”

And German Foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said: “We will not see a military solution” in Libya, but stressed that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had to step down. “Germany is ready to support humanitarian action for the people of Libya.”

British Foreign Secretary William Hague was upbeat about the meeting and said it would “strengthen” the pressure on Gaddafi to step down.

“It is impossible for anyone to see a viable future for Libya with Colonel Gaddafi in power,” Hague told reporters ahead of the meeting.
Hague also suggested that the meeting would look at setting up funding streams from Gulf states to help maintain services in the rebel-held east.

Members of the Transitional National Council were to address the contact group later Wednesday as an alternative voice for Libya’s people.

Speaking to AFP on the sidelines of Wednesday’s meeting, the rebels’ foreign relations chief Ali al-Essawi called for increased air strikes by Nato on Gaddafi’s tanks and missile sites. “Civilians are not sufficiently protected,” he said.

Essawi also said Libyan rebels were willing to hold talks with “any defector” from Gaddafi’s regime, including former foreign minister Mussa Kussa. (AFP)