Libya taunts UK over rebel death

30 July 2011 Last updated at 10:57 GMT Abdel Fattah Younes had defected from the government in February Libya's government has taunted the UK over the death of rebel military commander General Abdel Fattah Younes.

It has been claimed the former Libyan government minister was shot by an Islamist militia linked to the rebels.

A Libyan government spokesman said the incident showed the UK government had made a mistake by recognising the rebel council as the sole authority in Libya.

He said it was "a nice slap to the face of the British" that the rebels were unable to protect their army chief.

On Saturday, the rebels' Oil Minister, Ali Tarhouni, told reporters in Benghazi that a leader of the Obaida Ibn Jarrah Brigade had provided information on the circumstances of Gen Younes's death.

But he did not provide a motive for the killing, which he said was still being investigated.

On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK would recognise the Libyan National Transitional Council of the rebels as the "sole governmental authority", as it expelled Gaddafi-regime diplomats from the UK.

Gen Younes and two aides were killed by gunmen after being recalled from the front line of fighting.

Hundreds of mourners carried a coffin containing the general's body into Benghazi's main square on Friday.

Col Muammar Gaddafi's government in Tripoli said the killing was proof the rebels were not capable of ruling Libya.

'Nice slap to face'

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: "It is a nice slap to the face of the British that the council that they recognised could not protect its own commander of the army."

Speaking before Mr Tarhouni's comments, Mr Ibrahim suggested Gen Younes had been killed by al-Qaeda and repeated a claim that the group was the strongest force within the rebel movement, which is based in the east of the country.

"By this act, al-Qaeda wanted to mark out its presence and its influence in this region," he said.

"The other members of the (rebel) National Transitional Council knew about it but could not react because they are terrified of al-Qaeda."

Gen Younes - a former interior minister who had served at the heart of Col Gaddafi's regime since the 1969 coup - joined the rebels at the beginning of the Libyan uprising in February.

On Wednesday, the Libyan charge d'affaires in the UK was called to the Foreign Office to be told he and other diplomats must leave.

Instead the UK will ask the National Transitional Council to appoint a new diplomatic envoy.

It follows similar moves by the US and France. The UK had previously said it recognised "countries not governments".

Meanwhile, Nato said a "precision air strike" had disabled three Libyan state TV satellite transmission dishes.

Nato said the operation was intended to stop "inflammatory broadcasts" by Col Gaddafi's regime.

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UK sends more warplanes to Libya

15 July 2011 Last updated at 10:51 GMT There will now be 16 British Tornados deployed to Libya The UK is sending four more Tornado warplanes to support the Nato mission in Libya, in addition to 12 aircraft it has already deployed.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said the aircraft were well equipped for surveillance and reconnaissance.

"It is important to have this capability available," he said.

Earlier this week, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on members to provide more aircraft to protect Libyan civilians.

Nato said its warplanes had conducted more than 5,000 air missions since the action began in March.

Meanwhile in Turkey, Arab and Nato diplomats are meeting to consider the next phase of their campaign in Libya. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UK Foreign Secretary William Hague are part of the group of 15 gathering in Istanbul.

It is the fourth meeting of the Libya Contact Group since March.

The conflict in Libya began with protests against Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime and has escalated into a bloody battle for territory between government and rebel forces in the west and east of the oil-rich country.

The uprising, inspired by events in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt and sparked by the arrest of a Libyan human rights campaigner, began in February. Many were killed as authorities tried to suppress the revolt.

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UK Libya operation costs '£260m'

23 June 2011 Last updated at 12:21 GMT Liam Fox: "We place a higher value on human life than the Gaddafi regime does"

UK military operations in Libya could cost about ?260m over six months, the defence secretary has said.

In a written statement to MPs, Liam Fox said that if the Nato-led mission lasted that long, costs would be "in the region of ?120m".

He added that up to ?140m would also be spent replacing munitions.

The UK has been contributing to the operation to enforce a no-fly zone since 19 March. Overall costs will be met by Treasury reserves.

Earlier, Dr Fox said avoiding civilian casualties drove up costs but the spending showed the UK held the "higher moral ground".

When military strikes against Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces began, Chancellor George Osborne estimated that the cost of British involvement would be "in the order of tens of millions of pounds, not hundreds of millions".

But last week, Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander said the cost could run into "hundreds of millions" of pounds.

Valuing human life

Ahead of his announcement, Dr Fox people would "have to take into account that we have used more expensive precision weaponry so that we minimise civilian casualties in Libya.

"And if we are going to fight operations in the future based on minimising civilian casualties, there is clearly a financial price to pay."

He added: "I think that shows that we are on the moral high ground and that we place a higher value on human life than the Gaddafi regime."

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said Nato allies had to do more to reduce the British contribution.

'Fragile' morale

He said: "Many people at home will be thinking 'Why is it always Britain that has to do this?' and I think it is important that Britain does contribute, but I think we want to see some more of our Nato allies, particularly the European Nato allies, do more of the campaign [and] more of the fighting."

In a later statement, Mr Murphy added: "We want the government to be clearer on what stresses and strains operations in Libya are making on the core defence budget, and whether our standing commitments are, or will be, affected by the ongoing conflict."

Pressed by shadow chancellor Ed Balls about the issue of costs during Treasury questions in the Commons on Tuesday, Mr Osborne said the cost was being met by the Treasury special reserve and was "very much lower than the ongoing operation in Afghanistan".

Earlier this week Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, the RAF's second-in-command, said morale among RAF personnel was "fragile" and their fighting spirit was being threatened by being over-worked because of operations in Libya.

But Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday that military leaders were "absolutely clear" the mission could be kept going for as long as necessary.

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PM criticises comments over Libya

21 June 2011 Last updated at 14:19 GMT The RAF is involved in a Nato mission to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya The prime minister has expressed irritation at comments by military chiefs about the UK's role in Libya.

It comes after the RAF's second-in-command said "huge" demands were being placed on equipment and personnel.

David Cameron said: "There are moments when I wake up and read the newspapers and think: 'I tell you what, you do the fighting and I'll do the talking'."

He said military leaders were "absolutely clear" the mission could be kept going for as long as necessary.

"Time is on our side, not on Gaddafi's side," he said in a news conference.

He insisted that when he had spoken to airmen, morale and enthusiasm for the job was "extremely high".

Last week, the First Sea Lord, Sir Mark Stanhope, warned that continuing operations in Libya beyond September would mean taking ships away from other tasks.

And in briefing notes obtained by The Daily Telegraph and published on Tuesday, Air Chief Marshal Sir Simon Bryant, said morale among personnel was "fragile" and their fighting spirit was being threatened by being over-worked.

He said the service was being stretched by intense air operations in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

'Morale fragile'

According to the briefing paper, ACM Bryant warned MPs in May that many areas of the RAF were "running hot", while service personnel's sense that the nation valued their efforts was being undermined by the government's defence cuts.

ACM Bryant said: "The true strength is in our people in continuing to deliver, despite all that's asked of them.

Continue reading the main story

It is time to listen to military advice, review the review and provide our forces with capabilities which match our foreign policy ambitions”

End Quote Jim Murphy Shadow defence secretary "Morale remains fragile. Although fighting spirit remains positive, this assessment will be challenged by individual harmony targets as Operation Ellamy [in Libya] endures [after September]."

He continued: "The impact of SDSR [strategic defence and security review] continues to undermine the sense of being valued. There is concern over the perceived lack of strategic direction which is restricting confidence in the senior leadership."

The RAF faces cuts of 5,000 personnel over the next three years - a reduction of almost 15%.

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said the assumptions on which the government's defence review had been based were "fundamentally flawed".

"It is time to listen to military advice, review the review and provide our forces with capabilities which match our foreign policy ambitions," he said.

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the government's worry is that warnings of overstretch in the military are sending the wrong message to Col Gaddafi and Libya, as well as handing ammunition to Labour, which is calling for defence cuts to be reversed.

For the moment, there is no sign of a government u-turn on defence, but all three services are clear that there is very little in reserve for any new military mission as long as Libya and Afghanistan continue, she added.

Armed forces minister Nick Harvey said tough but necessary measures had to be taken in the strategic defence and security review but the MoD continued to have the resources it needed.

Meanwhile, George Osborne has said the Ministry of Defence will give an update on the cost of the Libya campaign in the next week.

Pressed by Ed Balls about the issue during Treasury questions in the Commons, Mr Osborne said the cost was being met by the Treasury special reserve and was "very much lower than the ongoing operation in Afghanistan".

The RAF is involved in a Nato mission to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion.

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Time is on our side in Libya - PM

15 June 2011 Last updated at 13:24 GMT David Cameron said the UK's armed forces were "superbly equipped" The head of the Royal Navy thinks the UK can sustain its mission in Libya for "as long as we need to", despite raising doubts earlier this week, David Cameron has said.

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope warned on Tuesday of "challenging decisions" if the mission was to last more than six months.

But the prime minister told MPs that he and Admiral Stanhope "agreed" the intervention could go on for longer.

"Time is on our side," he added.

The Nato mission - enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's violent response to an uprising.

It was mandated by the United Nations, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over.

Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days.

'Capability gaps'

Admiral Stanhope said on Tuesday that Britain was "comfortable" with involvement for this length of time, but added: "Beyond that, we might have to request the government to make some challenging decisions about priorities.

"If we do it longer than six months we will have to reprioritise forces. That is being addressed now. It could be from around home waters. I will not prejudge what that decision will be."

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The pressure is building militarily, diplomatically, politically and time is running out for Gaddafi”

End Quote David Cameron After a meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday, Admiral Stanhope appeared more positive, writing an article for Wednesday's Sun newspaper, praising the work of "your modern, flexible navy".

But, at prime minister's questions, Labour MP Mike Gapes said Admiral Stanhope's original comments had shown a need to reopen the government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, published five months before military action was taken in Libya.

The review outlined an 8% fall in defence spending over four years, with The RAF and navy losing 5,000 jobs each, the Army 7,000 and the Ministry of Defence 25,000 civilian staff.

Mr Gapes said: "The US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates has said that the Nato operation in Libya has exposed serious capability gaps.

"The First Sea Lord, Admiral (Sir) Mark Stanhope, has said that operations in Libya cannot be sustained for longer than three months without serious cuts elsewhere.

"Given those problems, isn't it time the prime minister reopened the defence review and did yet another U-turn on his failed policy?"

'Great job'

Mr Cameron replied: "I had a meeting with the First Sea Lord yesterday (Tuesday) and he agreed that we can sustain this mission as long as we need to.

"And those are exactly the words the Chief of the Defence Staff [General Sir David Richards] used yesterday, because we are doing the right thing.

"I want one simple message to go out from every part of this government and indeed every part of this House of Commons, and that is that time is on our side.

"We have got Nato. We've got the United Nations. We've got the Arab League. We have right on our side.

"The pressure is building militarily, diplomatically, politically and time is running out for Gaddafi."

On the call for a defence review, he pointed at the Labour front bench and said: "For 10 years they didn't have a defence review. Now they want two in a row.

"At the end of this review we have the fourth highest defence budget for any country in the world. We have superb armed forces, superbly equipped and they're doing a great job in the skies above Libya."

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UK Apaches to join Libya mission

27 May 2011 Last updated at 13:22 GMT Colonel Richard Kemp: "This will enable rebel forces to unlock a comparative stalemate"

The UK is sending four Apache attack helicopters to the mission in Libya, after approval by the prime minister.

If called upon, they will allow for swifter attacks on a wider range of smaller targets in urban areas.

The Apache helicopters, normally based at Wattisham, in Suffolk, are expected to go into operation within days.

Downing Street says intelligence suggests Col Muammar Gaddafi is "on the run" and hiding in Tripoli hospitals in the belief he will be safe there.

The Apache helicopters and their pilots, who are part of the Army Air Corps, are on exercise in the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile, a Russian diplomat has been quoted as saying the country could mediate Gaddafi's exit from Libya.

There had been speculation about the move to deploy the helicopters since Monday, after France said it would be deploying French Tiger helicopters and the UK would be sending Apaches.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "Ministers have given clearance in principle for the deployment of attack helicopters in Libya. It is a matter now for military commanders to make decisions on deployment."

Vulnerable

The final decision rested with David Cameron, who earlier on Thursday had requested more information about possible risks, while he was en route to the G8 Summit in France.

Continue reading the main story Caroline Wyatt Defence correspondent, BBC News

The Apache is prized by its crews and the troops it supports because it can operate day or night, in bad weather and in climates ranging from the chill of the Arctic to the heat of the desert, with dust and sand kept out of the engine by special filters...

The deployment of Apaches in Libya means there will be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that currently rely on the use of Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.

But the Apaches operate at lower altitudes and could be targeted by Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi, which still have access to thousands of surface-to-air missiles.

The deployment was discussed at a meeting of the UK's National Security Council at Downing Street on Thursday.

John Baron, the only Conservative MP to vote against intervention in Libya, told BBC Radio 4's World at One he felt the introduction of Apaches was "an escalation" of military action.

He said: "Yet again, we are getting drawn further and further into this intervention... It is quite clear that this mission is as much about regime change as it is about humanitarian aid."

Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said it marked a serious intensification of Britain's military commitment in Libya.

Civilian disguise

"It's a totally different order from those in a fixed wing aeroplane thousands of feet up in the air. These are close combat, fast attack helicopters, vulnerable to ground attack," he said.

Continue reading the main story Crew: 2 Main weapon: 16 Hellfire anti-tank missiles Length: 17.76m (58ft 3in) Rotor span: 14.63m (48ft) Cruising speed: 161mph (259km/h)Range: 334 miles (537km) Max mission duration: 2h 45min

Source: AgustaWestland

"So the government's got to reassure itself and reassure the public about the safety and the risk to our pilots. And in doing that they also have to be clearer about what's the exit strategy, what's the end game in Libya? What's the politics that goes alongside the military effort?"

Col Richard Kemp, former commander of forces in Afghanistan, told BBC Breakfast that Apaches can target individual soldiers, or groups of soldiers, on the ground as opposed to tanks or artillery or buildings.

"They are much more use at dealing with Gaddafi's latest tactics, which include using individuals in civilian clothes," he said.

"They are going to be critical in taking the campaign further and possibly unlocking what is not far off stalemate at present."

Retired Rear Adm Chris Parry, a defence analyst, said there was the potential for the Apaches to escalate the mission in Libya.

"It really depends how you want to use the Apaches. If you use them for protecting civilians, for defensive operations and for interdicting Colonel Gaddafi's re-supply convoys, then I would guess not.

"If you use them for assault operations and in reinforcing the rebels in their attacks on the Gaddafi regime I would say, yes, it is."

UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised air strikes to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.

The UN vote followed the violent suppression of protests against Col Gaddafi's regime and military strikes against Col Gaddafi's forces in support of the rebels, which began on 19 March.

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