France and Italy announced on April 21 that they will send military officers to Libya to advise rebels fighting for the ouster of leader Moammar Gadhafi and his regime.
Following a similar announcement by the
British government on Tuesday, French government spokesman Francois Baroin said
a "small number" of French troops was being sent to advise the
rebels' Transitional National Council.
French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet has ruled out sending ground troops to fight alongside the rebels. "This is a real issue that deserves an international debate," he said, adding, "We are working within the framework of the 1973 resolution," a reference to the U.N. resolution that authorized action in Libya. "You cannot please everyone all the time," he said.
Italy will send military advisers to train the rebels in self-defense tactics, Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari announced.
White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Barack Obama was pleased with the coalition decisions.
The United States is not moving toward sending military advisers, according to a US military official with knowledge of ongoing discussions within the US military. The White House remains adamant there will be no US ground forces in Libya, though U.S. intelligence operatives remain there, the source said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that she has recommended that President Barack Obama authorize the US government to send up to US$25 million in non-lethal commodities and services to support Libyan rebels, including the Transitional National Council.
(CNN)
