HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah has said that the Qatari armed forces have been giving training to Libyan rebels whereas Nato forces have been carrying out aerial control operations and determining positions that pose threats on the ground. Speaking on the sidelines of the conference of the Friends of Libya yesterday, Major General al-Attiyah said that Qatar had liaised between the rebels and Nato. Besides, Qatari land and air forces helped the rebels in Libya whereas Qatari warplanes supported Nato forces in checking Gaddafi troops and in protecting civilians. He hoped that Nato would extend its mission in Libya. Those meeting in Doha are forming a new coalition called “The Friends of Libya” after Nato mission expires, al-Attiyah said. The new alliance had been agreed at a meeting in Doha late in Ramadan, he said. Qatar will have a co-ordinating role in the alliance, he explained. He noted that a plan to collect weapons in Libya had already started, pointing out that Libyan institutions had resumed their activities which had stopped during the war. “Qatar and all other Arab and Western friends will have a role in training Libyans and helping Libyan security apparatus”, he said. Maintaining security will be the responsibility of Libyans, he said. However, he explained that the new alliance would monitor the borders and protect Libyan air space. Gulf Times

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