PARIS — France will stop arming Libya’s rebels, its defense secretary said Tuesday, after Paris was heavily criticized for parachuting in weapons to fighters clashing with loyalist forces.
Gerard Longuet said Libya’s opposition was becoming more organized and did not require French assistance in arranging arms, AFP reported.
“There is emerging a political order distinct from that of Tripoli,” Longuet said. “The [rebel] territories are organizing their autonomy … That is why the parachute drops are no longer necessary.”
He said, “This autonomy allows them to establish relations with outside partners, including when it comes to self-defense.”
Longuet added, “But that is not the business of the coalition and it is not the business of resolution 1973,” one of the UN Security Council resolutions under which France and NATO allies launched strikes on Moammar Khadafy’s military sites.
France last week admitted parachuting weapons to rebel fighters in the mountains south of the capital Tripoli, saying they were small arms for self-defense purposes only.
Russia accused France of a “brazen violation” of its UN mandate, while the African Union warned that the weapons could end up in the hands of al Qaeda.
The Libyan regime said Monday it intercepted two boats carrying weapons to the rebels. Some ammunition boxes had English markings indicating they came from Qatar, Al Jazeera reported.