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Sanctions are strangling us says a leading Libyan rebel | Sanctions are strangling us says a leading Libyan rebel |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Theo Leggett Business reporter, BBC News | By Theo Leggett Business reporter, BBC News |
Western governments are "strangling" the rebel movement in Libya, by failing to provide funds to opponents of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, according to a leading dissident. | Western governments are "strangling" the rebel movement in Libya, by failing to provide funds to opponents of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, according to a leading dissident. |
Dr Ali Tarhouni is head of the finance office in the interim government set up by the rebels' Transitional National Council in north-eastern Libya. | Dr Ali Tarhouni is head of the finance office in the interim government set up by the rebels' Transitional National Council in north-eastern Libya. |
He worked as an economist in the United States, having fled Libya in the 1970s. | |
But returned during the recent uprising to raise money for the opposition. | |
Desperate times | Desperate times |
His methods are certainly unconventional. | His methods are certainly unconventional. |
He says he raised $200m (£124m) by tunnelling into a locked branch of the central bank in Benghazi and removing the cash stored inside. | He says he raised $200m (£124m) by tunnelling into a locked branch of the central bank in Benghazi and removing the cash stored inside. |
But now, he says, the rebels are desperately short of funds. | But now, he says, the rebels are desperately short of funds. |
"Keep in mind that the same sanctions that Colonel Gaddafi is subject to, we are subject to" he told the BBC's World Business Report. | "Keep in mind that the same sanctions that Colonel Gaddafi is subject to, we are subject to" he told the BBC's World Business Report. |
"Our banking system is frozen, our assets are frozen. We have no access to liquidity," he says. | "Our banking system is frozen, our assets are frozen. We have no access to liquidity," he says. |
"This is a dire situation, we are in a war, but so far I have been unsuccessful in convincing our friends to help us out." | "This is a dire situation, we are in a war, but so far I have been unsuccessful in convincing our friends to help us out." |
Painfully slow | Painfully slow |
Earlier this month, at an international gathering in Rome, officials from more than 20 countries agreed to provide funding to the rebels. | Earlier this month, at an international gathering in Rome, officials from more than 20 countries agreed to provide funding to the rebels. |
But so far, according to Dr Tarhouni, the cash simply has not arrived. | But so far, according to Dr Tarhouni, the cash simply has not arrived. |
"We have a mechanism agreed on in Rome, with all the transparency, all the safeguards. Everybody's signed it," he notes. | "We have a mechanism agreed on in Rome, with all the transparency, all the safeguards. Everybody's signed it," he notes. |
"I do have a trust now. The problem is, there's no money in it". | "I do have a trust now. The problem is, there's no money in it". |
Dr Tarhouni says he has no idea why western governments are apparently dragging their feet. | Dr Tarhouni says he has no idea why western governments are apparently dragging their feet. |
"It's very frustrating. People are dying. I try to explain that to everybody. They need to answer that question, because at the end of the day, they're strangling us.". | "It's very frustrating. People are dying. I try to explain that to everybody. They need to answer that question, because at the end of the day, they're strangling us.". |
Priorities | Priorities |
Although he is appreciative of the political support his movement is getting, he maintains: "At the end of the day these fighters, these people need to eat, they need medicine. | Although he is appreciative of the political support his movement is getting, he maintains: "At the end of the day these fighters, these people need to eat, they need medicine. |
"I'm not even talking about arms. I'm talking about the basic things, but so far I haven't been able to convince anybody that we need access to funds to take care of these things." | "I'm not even talking about arms. I'm talking about the basic things, but so far I haven't been able to convince anybody that we need access to funds to take care of these things." |
The rebels do still control a large proportion of Libya's oil producing territory and infrastructure, a potentially lucrative source of revenue. | The rebels do still control a large proportion of Libya's oil producing territory and infrastructure, a potentially lucrative source of revenue. |
In April, amid great fanfare, an oil tanker was loaded in the port of Tobruk. | In April, amid great fanfare, an oil tanker was loaded in the port of Tobruk. |
That shipment raised $100 million for the rebels. | That shipment raised $100 million for the rebels. |
But Dr Tarhouni insists that was just a drop in the ocean. | But Dr Tarhouni insists that was just a drop in the ocean. |
"I have a budget of about $3bn for the next six months," he says. "So having an extra $100 million isn't going to do a lot. | "I have a budget of about $3bn for the next six months," he says. "So having an extra $100 million isn't going to do a lot. |
In any case, he insists that as the conflict continues further shipments are unlikely. | In any case, he insists that as the conflict continues further shipments are unlikely. |
"My goal now is just to keep the installations, protect the oil fields and protect the workers", he says. | "My goal now is just to keep the installations, protect the oil fields and protect the workers", he says. |
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