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Libya crisis: Allies step up funding to rebels | Libya crisis: Allies step up funding to rebels |
(25 days later) | |
Western and Arab countries involved in the Libya campaign have pledged money to a new funding mechanism for the rebels, stepping up international pressure on Col Gaddafi's regime. | Western and Arab countries involved in the Libya campaign have pledged money to a new funding mechanism for the rebels, stepping up international pressure on Col Gaddafi's regime. |
Italy is sending $586m (400m euros; £360m), France $420m, and Kuwait $180m. | Italy is sending $586m (400m euros; £360m), France $420m, and Kuwait $180m. |
The Libyan rebels have said they need $3bn over the next four months. | The Libyan rebels have said they need $3bn over the next four months. |
The pledges came at a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya in Abu Dhabi. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Col Gaddafi's days were "numbered". | The pledges came at a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya in Abu Dhabi. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Col Gaddafi's days were "numbered". |
"As time passes, maintaining our resolve and unity only grows more important," she told the meeting of the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - convened to prepare for the post-Gaddafi era. | "As time passes, maintaining our resolve and unity only grows more important," she told the meeting of the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - convened to prepare for the post-Gaddafi era. |
Mrs Clinton added: "Alongside our military mission to protect the Libyan people, we must continue to escalate the political, diplomatic and financial pressure on Gaddafi and his regime. | Mrs Clinton added: "Alongside our military mission to protect the Libyan people, we must continue to escalate the political, diplomatic and financial pressure on Gaddafi and his regime. |
"Time is on our side - but we know we must sustain the pressure." | "Time is on our side - but we know we must sustain the pressure." |
The temporary mechanism to transfer funds to the Libyan rebels is now operational, officials at the meeting said. | The temporary mechanism to transfer funds to the Libyan rebels is now operational, officials at the meeting said. |
Representatives for Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) transitional council say it needs cash urgently to pay for salaries and food supplies. | Representatives for Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) transitional council say it needs cash urgently to pay for salaries and food supplies. |
Italy said it would give the rebels up to $586m (400m euros; £360m) in cash and fuel aid backed by frozen Libyan assets. | Italy said it would give the rebels up to $586m (400m euros; £360m) in cash and fuel aid backed by frozen Libyan assets. |
France said it would release $420m (290m euros; £257m) of frozen Libyan funds. | France said it would release $420m (290m euros; £257m) of frozen Libyan funds. |
However, correspondents say there is no sign of any progress in the rebel requests to unfreeze Libyan assets in the US. | However, correspondents say there is no sign of any progress in the rebel requests to unfreeze Libyan assets in the US. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
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Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has been debating a report on alleged human rights violations in Libya. | Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has been debating a report on alleged human rights violations in Libya. |
The abuses include murder, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians allegedly committed by pro-Gaddafi forces, as well as serious violations by rebel forces. | The abuses include murder, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians allegedly committed by pro-Gaddafi forces, as well as serious violations by rebel forces. |
Libyan diplomat Mustafa Shaban on Thursday told members that his government was "the victim of a widespread aggression" and blamed the media, opposition and foreign mercenaries for human rights abuses, including "acts of cannibalism". | Libyan diplomat Mustafa Shaban on Thursday told members that his government was "the victim of a widespread aggression" and blamed the media, opposition and foreign mercenaries for human rights abuses, including "acts of cannibalism". |
In a separate development, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said there was evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon of war against rebel forces. | In a separate development, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said there was evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon of war against rebel forces. |
He said he was looking into allegations that security forces had been given medication such as Viagra to enhance their sex drive. | He said he was looking into allegations that security forces had been given medication such as Viagra to enhance their sex drive. |
In March, a Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidi, made headlines around the world after she burst into a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by pro-Gaddafi troops. She is recovering at a refugee centre in Romania. | In March, a Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidi, made headlines around the world after she burst into a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by pro-Gaddafi troops. She is recovering at a refugee centre in Romania. |
Testimony from captured Libyan soldiers that rape was used as a systematic weapon of war was taken by the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding in May. | Testimony from captured Libyan soldiers that rape was used as a systematic weapon of war was taken by the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding in May. |
Earlier, Nato carried out further air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. At least two powerful explosions rocked the Libyan capital late on Wednesday. | Earlier, Nato carried out further air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. At least two powerful explosions rocked the Libyan capital late on Wednesday. |