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30Jun11
AU condemns French arms drop to Libyan rebels - media
African Union Commission Chief Jean Ping condemned on Thursday French arms supply to Libyan rebels, world media said on Thursday.
France has confirmed media reports that it dropped weapons to Berber tribal fighters in mountains southwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli without informing the other coalition countries taking part in a military operation against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
"What worries us is not who is giving what, but simply that weapons are being distributed by all parties and to all parties," Ping said ahead of an African Union summit in Equatorial Guinea. "We already have proof that these weapons are in the hands of al-Qaeda, of traffickers. These weapons will contribute to the destabilization of African states."
NATO will not seek to arrest Libyan leader Gaddafi, as it is not within the organization's competence, an official spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant on Monday for Gaddafi's arrest.
The Hague-based ICC said on Monday it had "reasonable grounds to believe" that Gaddafi ordered the murders and persecution of civilians.
Warrants were also issued for Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi.
Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s NATO envoy, criticized certain NATO countries for interfering in Libya.
“Individual NATO countries have basically started giving direct military aid to one of the warring sides,” Rogozin said, adding that this could be qualified as direct interference in an internal conflict.
[Source: RIA Novosti, Moscow, 30Jun11]
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