Tripoli: Libyan rebels have accused Nato of doing nothing to protect civilian in their fight against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Head of the Libyan opposition’s armed forces Abdul Fatah Younis Speaking at a press conference in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, said that Nato had “disappointed” the rebels, even though it is helping them., adding that the Nato was acting slowly or not acting.
Younis’ comments came as the rebels were forced out of the oil town of Brega in the country’s east by a renewed offensive launched by Gaddafi’s forces. The rebels were forced to retreat to Ajdabiya.
“Unfortunately, and I am sorry to say this, Nato has disappointed us. My staff have been in contact with Nato officials to direct them to targets that should protect civilians, but until now, Nato has not given us what we need,” he said.
In particular, Younis was scathing in his criticism of the Nato response to events in Misurata, where residents have been under siege from pro-Gaddafi forces for the last 40 days. Younis said that Gaddafi had contaminated the drinking water, and that residents of the city did not have access to basic supplies.
“Civilians are dying daily because of lack of food or milk, even children are dying. Even by bombing. If Nato waits for another week, it will be a crime that Nato will have to carry. What is Nato doing? It is shelling some defined areas only,” he said.
“When a large force of tanks, and even artillery, is on its way to Benghazi, Ajdabiya or Brega, we always inform Nato straight away. Because we don’t have such weapons. Nato’s reaction is very slow. By the time the information reaches from one official to another until it reaches the field commander, it takes hours.
“Will these forces wait for hours to bomb? No, they will go into the city and burn it down. That is why I want Nato to stand with us and support us, otherwise I will ask the [opposition] National Council to address this issue at the UN Security Council.”
Younis said that rebel forces were providing Nato with the coordinates where pro-Gaddafi forces were present, but they were slow to act, allowing the forces to “enter a city, kill everybody, burn it down and then leave the city” before any action was taken.
He also complained that Nato was not allowing the opposition to use the MiG fighter aircraft and helicopters that it had repaired.
“Nato is moving very slowly, allowing Gaddafi forces to advance … Nato has become our problem,” he said.
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