UK to Send Military Advisory into Libya

According to a report by the BBC, the British military has prepared to send a team of military officers to Libya to help advise the rebels fighting Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The move comes as no surprise as many saw both Great Britain and France pushing to ramp up involvement in Libya, as the Obama administration puts off sending US personnel into the country directly.

The BBC report showed that about 10 British officers would be sent to Libya at an upsecified time, with about 10 more coming from the French military. The advisers would give not only military advisement to the rebel leadership, but also logistics and intelligence training to forces in Benghazi.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the move was in accordance with the resolution on Libya, which forbids foreign occupation forces. The Libyan foreign minister disagreed with Secretary Hague saying that the move by European forces would only prolong hostilities.

Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, a Libyan government adjunct told the BBC the sending of UK military personnel to Libya would harm any peace initiative and “prolong the confrontation”.

The move by Britain follows the fall of presidents in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, and an uprising against Gaddafi‘s 42-year rule, which began in February.

It has developed into an armed conflict, with rebels pitted against pro-Gaddafi forces for control over territory. Misrata, the rebels’ last stronghold in the west, has faced weeks of heavy bombardment.

The UN Security Council resolution, passed in March, authorized “all necessary measures short of occupation” to protect civilians. NATO is currently in charge of the no-fly zone and coalition operations have been largely confined to air attacks.

Mr. Hague said: “The UK National Security Council has decided that we will now move quickly to expand the team already in Benghazi to include an additional military liaison advisory team. This contingent will be drawn from experienced British military officers.”

"These additional personnel will enable the UK to build on the work already being undertaken to support and advise the Libyan Rebel Council on how to better protect civilians.
“In particular they will advise the rebels on how to improve their military organizational structures, communications and logistics, including how best to distribute humanitarian aid and deliver medical assistance.”

On Monday, the British foreign secretary told the BBC, that the military would also be sending body armor and communications equipment to the country. The secretary also said the government would send Libyan rebels 4 million dollars over the next week in order to aid the evacuation of civilians from Misrata.

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Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com