UK to send advisers to Libya, troops if needed
Sat Mar 5, 2011 1:34pm GMT
Print | Single Page<-> Text <+> * Taskforce of government advisers to go to Benghazi
* Black Watch troops on stand-by to deploy
* Troops to aid humanitarian efforts only
By Stefano Ambrogi
LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - Britain said on Saturday it was hoping to send a diplomatic taskforce to Libya soon to make contact with opposition leaders and had readied a battalion of troops to aid humanitarian and evacuation efforts if needed.
Government sources told Reuters a team of experts including foreign office officials would travel to Benghazi in the east of the country in due course to see what anti-Gaddafi forces required.
The taskforce is being sent on a fact-finding mission and to see how Britain could help in a logistical way, the sources said. It is understood the rebels will not be given arms as there is an international arms embargo in place.
Asked when the team would go a source said: "we are not discussing any timings." The Foreign Office declined official comment
more:
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE72408L20110305