France Not Planning to Arm Libya Rebels
France is not planning to arm rebels fighting to oust Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi because such a move is not compatible with a U.N. resolution on the conflict, France's defense minister said Thursday.
"Such assistance is not on the agenda because it is not compatible with resolution 1973," the U.N. Security Council Resolution that authorized U.N. members to intervene to protect civilians, minister Gerard Longuet told reporters.
The rebels are battling forces loyal to Gadhafi for control of key towns and have gained momentum from air strikes on pro-Gadhafi forces by the United States, France and Britain.
The resolution authorized U.N. members to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to ground Gadhafi's warplanes. Longuet stressed that it "does not currently permit troops on the ground."
France's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe had said Tuesday that France was prepared to discuss with its allies possible military aid to the rebels. The United States has yet to announce a decision on whether to help arm them.
"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," Juppe said in London at an international conference on the crisis.
"Having said that, we are prepared to discuss this with our partners."
Source: Agence France Presse
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