Britain To Send Military Advisers To Libya Rebels

A rebel fighter mans a Grad rocket launcher in the front line along the western entrance of Ajdabiyah

Britain has said it is due to send military officers to help Libyan rebels improve their organization in the fight against Muammar Qaddafi's forces.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the team would not be involved in training or arming the rebels, nor would it help plan their military operations.

Hague said the operation falls within the UN Security Council Resolution on Libya that authorized international air strikes to protect civilians.

The BBC reported that the team will provide logistics and intelligence training in a joint British-French operation.

Also on April 19, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Paris is opposed to the idea of sending French ground troops into Libya.

In Rome, Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the conflict had so far killed 10,000 people and wounded 55,000, citing figures compiled by the Benghazi-based rebel government.

Frattini spoke after talks in Rome with Libyan rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil.

compiled from agency reports