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- Jan 7, 2011
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Libyan rebels blame West for lack of cash
By Maria Golovnina
BENGHAZI, Libya | Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:00pm EDT
(Reuters) - Rebels waging a drawn-out war to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have run out of money, their oil chief said on Saturday, and he accused the West of failing to keep its promises of urgent financial aid. His comments came as cracks were appearing in the NATO alliance over its 3-month bombing campaign against Gaddafi, with some allies showing mission fatigue and the United States accusing some European allies of failing to pull their weight.
The rebels have made several gains in the past few weeks, but remain far from seizing their ultimate prize -- Gaddafi's powerbase of Tripoli and its hinterland -- despite air support from the world's most powerful military alliance.
"We are running out of everything. It's a complete failure. Either they (Western nations) don't understand or they don't care. Nothing has materialized yet. And I really mean nothing," rebel oil chief Ali Tarhouni said in an interview with Reuters.
"All of these people we talk to, all of these countries, at all these conferences, with their great grand speeches -- we appreciate (them) ... but in terms of finances they are a complete failure. Our people are dying," he said.
SHAMBLES
The economy in eastern Libya, where much of the oil that once made Libya a major OPEC exporter came from, is in a shambles. Rebel leaders struggle to pay for military operations and salaries in a society where, thanks to the legacy of Gaddafi's centralized rule, most people rely on state wages. The European Union has pledged financial infusions and the United States, which took a leading role in securing a U.N.-backed no-fly zone over Libya, has promised more aid.
The U.S. government said in a press release late on Saturday that it had "delivered a second shipment of non-lethal aid to Benghazi" which was requested by the rebels, including body armor, uniforms and first aid kits, two days ago.
Tarhouni has estimated the rebels were spending up to 100 million Libyan dinars ($86 million) per day. "I don't expect us to produce oil any time soon. The refineries have no crude oil, so they are not working," he said.
Chanzo cha habari
By Maria Golovnina
BENGHAZI, Libya | Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:00pm EDT
(Reuters) - Rebels waging a drawn-out war to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have run out of money, their oil chief said on Saturday, and he accused the West of failing to keep its promises of urgent financial aid. His comments came as cracks were appearing in the NATO alliance over its 3-month bombing campaign against Gaddafi, with some allies showing mission fatigue and the United States accusing some European allies of failing to pull their weight.
The rebels have made several gains in the past few weeks, but remain far from seizing their ultimate prize -- Gaddafi's powerbase of Tripoli and its hinterland -- despite air support from the world's most powerful military alliance.
"We are running out of everything. It's a complete failure. Either they (Western nations) don't understand or they don't care. Nothing has materialized yet. And I really mean nothing," rebel oil chief Ali Tarhouni said in an interview with Reuters.
"All of these people we talk to, all of these countries, at all these conferences, with their great grand speeches -- we appreciate (them) ... but in terms of finances they are a complete failure. Our people are dying," he said.
SHAMBLES
The economy in eastern Libya, where much of the oil that once made Libya a major OPEC exporter came from, is in a shambles. Rebel leaders struggle to pay for military operations and salaries in a society where, thanks to the legacy of Gaddafi's centralized rule, most people rely on state wages. The European Union has pledged financial infusions and the United States, which took a leading role in securing a U.N.-backed no-fly zone over Libya, has promised more aid.
The U.S. government said in a press release late on Saturday that it had "delivered a second shipment of non-lethal aid to Benghazi" which was requested by the rebels, including body armor, uniforms and first aid kits, two days ago.
Tarhouni has estimated the rebels were spending up to 100 million Libyan dinars ($86 million) per day. "I don't expect us to produce oil any time soon. The refineries have no crude oil, so they are not working," he said.
Chanzo cha habari
