Ajdabiyah, April 08: Anti-government fighters claimed NATO airstrikes blasted their forces Thursday in another apparent mistake that sharply escalated anger about the military alliance’s efforts to cripple Libyan forces. At least five fighters were killed and more than 20 injured, a doctor said.
The attack — near the front lines outside the eastern oil port of Brega — would be the second accidental NATO strike against anti-government forces in less than a week.
An opposition commander, Ayman Abdul-Karim, said he saw airstrikes hit tanks and an anti-government convoy, which included a passenger bus carrying fighters toward Brega. He said the tops of opposition vehicles were marked with yellow under advice by NATO to identify the anti-government forces. But the fighters use tanks and other vehicles commandeered from the Libyan Army — potentially making their convoys appear similar to pro-government units from the air.
In Brussels, a NATO official said the alliance will look into the latest opposition claims but he had no immediate information.
In a separate statement, NATO dismissed Libyan claims that British warplanes struck the country’s largest oil field, saying the attacks were carried out by government forces.
In Washington, Army Gen. Carter Ham, who led the initial phases of the Libyan mission before transferring command to NATO, described the conflict as a stalemate. Ham told a Senate hearing Washington should not provide arms to the opposition fighters without a better idea of who they were.
Asked if there was an emerging stalemate, he replied: “I would agree with that at present, on the ground.”
On the political front, Turkey’s prime minister proposed a road map for peace in Libya, urging forces aligned with Qaddafi to withdraw from besieged cities, the establishment of humanitarian aid corridors and comprehensive democratic change.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the measures would be discussed at a meeting by a group set up to guide the international intervention in Libya in Qatar next week.
Britain’s Foreign Office said the contact group will meet in Doha on Wednesday. The ministry could not confirm precisely who have been invited to attend. British government officials said the US would be represented, and that the Arab League is also expected to be at the talks.
—Arabnews