After a day-long conference in London on how to move forward the political process in Libya, other developments included: An admission the Coalition did not yet fully know who made up the opposition, which came after Nato said American intelligence had shown “flickers” of al Qaeda among the rebels; A suggestion the Coalition would be prepared to see Colonel Gaddafi go into exile if a country was willing to take him; A claim by the Italians that several nations were working on a deal involving a ceasefire, exile for Gaddafi and a talks framework between Libya’s tribal leaders and opposition figures; Nick Clegg warning about the “danger of overreaching” during a speech in Mexico, but stressing liberal interventionism must be upheld.
Hosted by the UK Government and attended by representatives from more than 40 countries, the conference agreed Gaddafi and his regime had “completely lost legitimacy” and would be “held accountable for their actions”.
Mr Hague, the Foreign Secretary, said the coalition had been widened and deepened -- Sweden became the latest nation to offer military support -- and hailed the conference as a milestone in ensuring the Libyan people could determine their own future.
On arming the rebels, until now it had been thought this was banned under UN Resolution 1970, which imposed an arms embargo across Libya.
However, Mrs Clinton, the US Secretary of State, said while America had made no decisions on arms, it believed Resolution 1973 could allow for “a legitimate transfer of arms if a country were to choose to do that”.
Mr Hague said the issue had not been discussed but he appeared not to rule out the possibility, noting how it would be “consistent” with Resolution 1973, which authorised military action “to give people aid in order to defend themselves in particular circumstances”.
Meantime, Alain Juppe, the French Foreign Minister, dis-agreed but said France was “ready to discuss it”.
Whitehall sources told The Herald there was a legal argument that would allow for arming the rebels if it could be proved this was for the purpose of protecting civilians.
The move would be controversial as, once arms were handed over, no-one could guarantee how the rebels would use them.
Given US intelligence’s reference to “flickers” the rebels may contain terrorist elements, Mr Hague said the coalition regarded the opposition, represented primarily by the new Interim National Council, as sincere in trying to bring about change.
But he warned against complacency, noting: “There is a danger if things go wrong in the region on a sustained basis, there could be new opportunities for terrorism or extremism.”
Mr Hague added: “But I’m sure what we are doing to protect civilians, to encourage a political process in Libya in which Libyans can choose their own future government is the right way to combat those dangers of terrorism and extremism.”
Last night on a trade mission to Mexico, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg used a speech to speak about renewing a policy of multilateralism as evidenced by nations coming together to implement the UN resolution.
He stressed that while nations had always to work within the confines of international law, “we need to know our limits”.
Mr Clegg added: “We need to be humble about the extent to which we can interfere in the business of any nation state. The danger of overreaching should be in our minds at all times.”
‘Flickers’ of al Qaeda among rebels fighting Gaddafi, says Nato chief
INTELLIGENCE on the Libyan rebel forces has shown "flickers" of the presence of al Qaeda, the commander of Nato forces said yesterday.
Admiral James Stavridis, Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and the US commander of operations, told the US Senate yesterday there was evidence the terrorist group had attached itself to those fighting Colonel Gaddafi.
He added: "The intelligence I am receiving makes me feel that the leadership I am seeing are responsible men and women struggling against Colonel Gaddafi. We have seen flickers in the intelligence of potential al Qaeda, Hezbollah, we’ve seen different things.
"But at this point I don’t have sufficient detail to say there is a significant al Qaeda presence or any other terrorist presence in and among these folks. We’ll continue to look at that very closely. It’s part of doing due diligence as we move forward."
The news came as rebels in the city of Misrata -- where 124 civilians have been killed during nine days of fighting -- tried to fight off fresh attacks by Gaddafi’s forces and eight civilians were killed.
Without air strikes it appears the rebels are not able to hold ground or make advances.
Reports from retreating rebels that some residents outside Gaddafi’s birthplace of Sirte fought alongside government troops are an ominous sign for world powers hoping for a swift end to Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.
A rebel spokesman said: "Gaddafi’s forces tried this morning to get into Misrata through the western gate but the youths repelled them."
Gaddafi’s forces and rebels have both claimed control over parts of Misrata and fighting appeared to persist in the fiercely contested city, Libya’s third largest.
Meanwhile, a Libyan woman who said she had been raped by pro-government militia has been accused of slandering her alleged attackers.
Iman al-Obaidi faces court action because she had publicly named the men she accused of raping her. Ms Obaidi burst into a hotel full of foreign journalists in Tripoli on Saturday and told them she had been held for two days and raped by 15 men.
"In Islam it is very serious when you accuse someone of a sexual crime. She named the accused publicly and they are suing her," said government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim. After being intimidated and subdued by security men and hotel staff Miss Obaidi was bundled into a car and has not been seen since.
