‘French, UK mercenaries caught in Libya’
Libya: Spokesman for Libya’s fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi has
claimed that the loyalists of the fallen regime have arrested 17
“mercenaries”-some British and French-in the stronghold of Bani Walid.”A
group was captured in Bani Walid consisting of 17 mercenaries.
They are technical experts and they include consultative officers,”
Gaddafi spokesman Ibrahim said on Monday.
“Most of them are French, one of them is from an Asian country that
has not been identified, two English people and one Qatari,” Ibrahim
added.
French foreign ministry said it had no information about the report
while British foreign ministry announced it was aware of the report but
could not verify the claim, Reuters reported.
NATO which has been conducting airstrikes since taking command of the
Libya mission on March 31 has said it has no troops on the ground.
However, Western countries as well as Persian Gulf Arab states have
sent special forces to Libya and some private security firms are
reportedly helping revolutionary forces with training, targeting and
leadership.
Fighters’ advance on the northern gate of Bani Walid came to a halt
on Monday when they encountered strong resistance from last remnants of
the Gaddafi regime fighting against revolutionary forces.
Fighters came under heavy gunfire from Gaddafi loyalists and lack of
organization prevented an all-out attack on the bastion, anti-Gaddafi
forces said.
Abdullah Kenshil, a senior official in the National Transitional
Council (NTC), said the fight for control of Bani Walid was a “done
deal” that would be completed in the next two days.The NTC official
added that Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son of the
country’s fugitive ruler, has for “100 percent certain” been seen in the
stronghold of Bani Walid.
Kenshil said those fighting against revolutionary forces for control
of the troubled town are not “necessarily Gaddafi brigade but
mercenaries from Chad, Niger and Togo.
Attacks on the other stronghold of pro-Gaddafi forces, the former
ruler’s birthplace of Sirte, have also been repelled.
Many families fled the troubled city on Monday as fighters braced for
a fresh assault by rolling up with huge rocket launchers and artillery.
Press TV
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