Arms to Libya rebels ‘not ruled out’

US President Barack Obama has said he does not rule out arming the rebels seeking to overthrow Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

He said in an interview that Col Gaddafi had been greatly weakened and would ultimately step down.

Pro-Gaddafi forces have driven the rebels back tens of kilometres over ground they took in recent days after coalition air strikes.

The rebels have now retreated eastwards past the town of Ras Lanuf.

News of the rebel withdrawal came as an international conference on Libya in London agreed to set up a contact group involving Arab governments to co-ordinate help for a post-Gaddafi Libya.

At least several thousand people have been killed and thousands wounded since the uprising against Col Gaddafi’s rule began more than six weeks ago, with the rebels now controlling much of the east and pro-Gaddafi forces holding the capital Tripoli and other western cities.

‘All options’

Speaking to US media, President Obama said: “I think that it’s fair to say that if we wanted to get weapons into Libya, we probably could.

“We are looking at all our options at this point.”

On the Libyan leader’s future, he said: “I think what we are seeing is that the circle around Gaddafi understands that the noose is tightening, that their days are probably numbered and they will have to think through what their next steps are.”

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said at the London conference that France and its partners were prepared to discuss arming the rebels but not without the backing of a new UN Security Council resolution.

“I remind you that this is not what is envisaged by Resolution 1973… so for the moment France has agreed to the strict application of these resolutions,” he said.

However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the conference that although UN sanctions prohibited the delivery of arms to Libya, the ban no longer applied.

“It is our interpretation that [UN Security Council resolution] 1973 amended or overrode the absolute prohibition on arms to anyone in Libya,” she said.

Rebel retreat

Forces loyal to Col Gaddafi launched a new offensive on Monday, consolidating their hold on western Libya.

Hundreds of rebels fled in panic from the recently captured town of Bin Jawad and there were also reports of further shelling in the city of Misrata, which government forces are battling to seize back.

The BBC’s Nick Springate reports from eastern Libya that the country has seen an incredible reverse for the rebels.

Their retreat is very significant as it shows they have lost the momentum gained after coalition attacks which allowed them to take the towns of Ajdabiya, Brega and Ras Lanuf, our correspondent says.

It also shows the rebels lack supply lines and organisation, he adds.

In the capital, Tripoli, several large explosions were heard close to the Libyan leader’s residence.

A senior official close to Col Gaddafi told the BBC that he believed the Libyan government could accept the partition of the country and the division of its oil revenues.

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