U.S. covert operations buoy rebels

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U.S. covert operations buoy rebels

Gather for counterattack in east; Special forces on ground identifying targets

for airstrikes, experts say

By ALEXANDER DZIADOSZ and ANGUS MACSWAN, Reuters

Rebels massed for a counterattack against Moammar Gadhafi's forces in eastern

Libya on Thursday, encouraged by news of covert U.S. support and the defection

of Tripoli's foreign minister.

News that U.S. officials told Reuters President Barack Obama had authorized

covert operations in Libya raised the prospect of wider support for the rebels.

Experts assume special forces are on the ground identifying targets for

airstrikes.

Public confirmation from Washington may indicate a willingness for greater

involvement.

But the rebels, whose main call is for weapons - not authorized yet by

Washington because of a UN arms embargo which NATO says it is enforcing - said

that too big a foreign role could be damaging.

" It would undermine our credibility, " Gheriani said.

Obama's order is likely to further alarm countries already concerned that

airstrikes on infrastructure and ground troops by the United States, Britain and

France go beyond a UN resolution with the stated aim only of protecting

civilians.

" I can't speak to any CIA activities but I will tell you that the president has

been quite clear that in terms of the United States military, there will be no

boots on the ground, " U.S. Defense Secretary Gates said.

" We are beginning to see the Gadhafi regime crumble, " rebel spokesperson Mustafa

Gheriani said in the eastern town of Benghazi.

Analysts agreed the defection of minister Moussa Koussa, who flew to London

Wednesday, was a blow to Gadhafi, whose forces have gained ground in recent

days.

But the top U.S. military officer told Congress Gadhafi was far from beaten.

" We have actually fairly seriously degraded his military capabilities, " Admiral

Mike Mullen said. " That does not mean he's about to break from a military

standpoint. "

Despite almost two weeks of Western air strikes, Gadhafi's troops have used

superior arms and tactics to push back rebels trying to edge westward along the

coast from their eastern stronghold of Benghazi toward the capital Tripoli.

The top Vatican official in the Libyan capital cited witnesses on Thursday

saying at least 40 civilians had been killed in Western air strikes on Tripoli.

NATO said it was investigating but had no confirmation of the report. Libya's

state news agency, citing military sources, said Western air strikes had hit a

civilian area in the capital overnight, but did not mention casualties.

Rebels said Gadhafi loyalists had killed 38 civilians over the past two days

alone in Misrata, the only town in western Libya still under rebel control.

" Massacres are taking place in Misrata, " a rebel spokesperson called Sami said

by telephone.

Britain said it was focusing airstrikes around Misrata, which has been under

siege from government forces for weeks.

Rebels say snipers and tank fire have killed dozens of people.

About 1,000 people are believed to have been killed in clashes between

supporters and opponents of Gadhafi since the uprising against his 41-year-old

rule began Feb. 17, the British government said.

The forces fighting Gadhafi say they desperately need arms and ammunition to

supplement supplies grabbed from government depots.

The U.S., France and Britain have raised the possibility, but say no decision

has been taken.

NATO, which took over formal command of the air campaign Thursday, said it would

enforce a UN arms embargo on all sides: " We are there to protect the Libyan

people, not to arm the people, " NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in

Stockholm.

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