NATO for financing rebel fighters in Libya
May 4th, 2011 - 11:34 pm ICT by IANSBrussels, May 4 (IANS) NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Wednesday supported providing financial support to rebel fighters in Libya to help force Muammar Gaddafi to leave.
“I am definitely in favour of taking all necessary measures to put maximum pressure on the Gaddafi regime…I do believe that will be protection of civilians if Gaddafi was forced to step down,” Rasmussen said at a news conference.
“In this respect, I think it will be helpful to make sure the opposition can be financed properly. I would expect such financial mechanisms to be discussed in Rome,” Rasmussen said.
In addition, Rasmussen denied that the alliance’s military operation in Libya was facing a stalemate.
“The nature of the conflict has changed significantly in a month…We are making progress every day, every week,” he said.
Fourteen of the 28 NATO countries are taking part in operation Unified Protector in Libya, which includes air strikes, a no-fly zone and naval enforcement of an arms embargo.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution imposing a no-fly zone over Libya March 17, paving the way for a military operation against Gaddafi which began two days later.
The command of the operation was shifted from a US-led international coalition to NATO in late March.
- NATO chief makes unannounced visit to Libya - Nov 01, 2011
- NATO ends its mission in Libya - Nov 01, 2011
- NATO extends mission in Libya - Jun 01, 2011
- NATO chief dismisses talk of intervention in Syria - Nov 05, 2011
- UN resolution on Libya too hasty, says Russia - Mar 23, 2011
- NATO air strikes in Tripoli kill 19 civilians: Libyan TV - May 25, 2011
- Russia-NATO Council meeting to address Libya issue (Lead) - Mar 23, 2011
- US Congress votes against military campaign in Libya - Jun 25, 2011
- NATO formally decides to end Libya mission on Oct 31 - Oct 28, 2011
- Gaddafi's son, three grandchildren killed in NATO air strike (Lead) - May 01, 2011
- NATO campaign aimed at ousting Gaddafi - Russian NATO envoy - May 25, 2011
- NATO not to keep troops around Libya - Oct 25, 2011
- Robert Gates unaware about no-fly zone's duration in Libya - Mar 28, 2011
- Gaddafi's son, three grandchildren killed in NATO air strike (Second Lead) - May 01, 2011
- Gaddafi's son, three grandchildren killed in NATO strike (Third Lead) - May 01, 2011
Tags: anders fogh rasmussen, arms embargo, civilians, financial mechanisms, fly zone, gaddafi regime, international coalition, libya, march 17, maximum pressure, military operation, muammar gaddafi, nato countries, nato secretary general, necessary measures, news conference, paving the way, rebel fighters, stalemate, un security council