PARIS: France, jointly with Britain, will send military liaison officers to opposition rebel forces locked in a conflict with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's army.
Government spokesman Francois Baroin stressed France had no intention of sending troops into Libya, where Western powers are struggling to break a deadlock in a two-month-old conflict.
"A small number of liaison officers (will be placed) with the National Transition Council in order to organise the protection of the civilian population," he told a news briefing.
He said they would number up to 10 and that this was an initiative in partnership with the Western-led coalition intervening in Libya.
The French officers are expected to advise rebel leaders on how to organise their ragtag forces, which are struggling against Gaddafi's bigger, better-armed and better-trained army.
They would also liaise with NATO on the location of rebels and Gaddafi's troops.
Britain -- which along with France has been at the forefront of the intervention in Libya -- said on Tuesday it was sending a dozen military officers to help Libyan insurgents improve their organisation and communications, but said they would not arm the rebels or train them to fight.
Baroin declined to say which countries could participate, saying: "We're not in the position to speak for other countries."
France already has several military officials in Benghazi protecting a diplomatic envoy who has been based there for the last few weeks.
Government spokesman Francois Baroin stressed France had no intention of sending troops into Libya, where Western powers are struggling to break a deadlock in a two-month-old conflict.
"A small number of liaison officers (will be placed) with the National Transition Council in order to organise the protection of the civilian population," he told a news briefing.
He said they would number up to 10 and that this was an initiative in partnership with the Western-led coalition intervening in Libya.
The French officers are expected to advise rebel leaders on how to organise their ragtag forces, which are struggling against Gaddafi's bigger, better-armed and better-trained army.
They would also liaise with NATO on the location of rebels and Gaddafi's troops.
Britain -- which along with France has been at the forefront of the intervention in Libya -- said on Tuesday it was sending a dozen military officers to help Libyan insurgents improve their organisation and communications, but said they would not arm the rebels or train them to fight.
Baroin declined to say which countries could participate, saying: "We're not in the position to speak for other countries."
France already has several military officials in Benghazi protecting a diplomatic envoy who has been based there for the last few weeks.
VIVEK KUMAR
PGDM 2nd sem
No comments:
Post a Comment