Rebels fighting Moamer Kadhafi's rule acquired weapons either by buying them with "Libyan money" or they were supplied by "friends", the head of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) said Wednesday.
"Indeed, we have received some weapons, but they are not enough," Mustafa Abdel Jalil, a former justice minister who now heads the anti-Kadhafi insurgency, told French television station France 24.
"We received weapons from some friends. I can't identify them now, but I can say that friends gave us weapons and we were also able to buy some with Libyan money," said the rebel leader, who is on a visit to Paris.
He said the role of Qatar, one of three countries along with France and Italy to have recognised the NTC, in the arms delivery was "very limited".
Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were the only Arab states to participate in military operations in Libya despite the Arab League's support for a no-fly zone to prevent Kadhafi from harming civilians.
Last week, Qatar hosted a meeting of the International Contact Group on Libya, and attracted a riposte from the Tripoli government, which accused the emirate of supplying anti-tank missiles to rebels.
Earlier Wednesday, Jalil met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy for 45 minutes and invited him to visit the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya.
Sarkozy's office said it had "taken note" of Jalil's invitation, which came as France announced it had sent some military advisers to help the embattled rebellion against Kadhafi's regime.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
