Hague in Libya to talk to rebels

Foreign Secretary William Hague has arrived in rebel-held Benghazi, pledging his support for Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC).

Speaking ahead of his trip to the opposition stronghold, Mr Hague said the NCT was the “legitimate representative of the Libyan people”.

Mr Hague is due to hold talks with its head, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, later.

Meanwhile, UK Apache attack helicopters have been used over Libya for the first time, Nato has confirmed.

They attacked and destroyed two military installations, a radar site and an armed checkpoint near Brega, the Captain of HMS Ocean told the BBC.

The Apaches are understood to have faced incoming fire.

On Wednesday, Nato extended its mission in Libya by 90 days.

Mr Hague said he was in Benghazi for “one principal reason – to show our support for the Libyan people and for the National Transitional Council, the legitimate representative of the Libyan people”.

He said the visit was “part of a co-ordinated and strategic approach to Libya – ensuring that our military, diplomatic and development actions are aligned”.

“The UK is committed to this task. Col Gaddafi is isolated internationally and domestically. He has lost all legitimacy, continues to abuse human rights without mercy or compunction. He must go,” he said.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has also made the trip to Benghazi.

Ahead of his arrival, he announced that the Mines Advisory Group would help the Libyan people by clearing “areas of life-shattering mines, preventing the indiscriminate killing of many men, women and children”.

“It is crucial to help meet immediate needs. But the future of Libya lies in the hands of the Libyan people. That is why we are here, to discuss with the NTC how they plan to bring peace, stability and economic development to their country,” he said.

The UK already has a joint team from the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence in Benghazi, advising the Council on its long-term plans.

Communications equipment, bullet-proof vests and uniforms have also been provided to the civilian police authorities.

The BBC’s John Williams, in Benghazi, said the timing the visit and the helicopter attacks would not be lost on Mr Hague and the NTC.

“The strikes that we saw earlier on today, on Brega, are quite significant, in terms of what David Cameron described as, “turning up the heat on Colonel Gaddafi,” he said.

As well as the Apaches, French Gazelle helicopters also took part in simultaneous attacks on different targets in Libya for the first time.

Major General Nick Pope, the chief of the defence staff’s strategic communications officer, said: “Hellfire missiles and 30mm cannon were used to destroy the targets. The helicopters then returned safely to HMS Ocean.”

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the attack helicopter was “yet another potent and formidable aircraft type which has now been added to the Nato forces engaged on this operation”, while the former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, said the move has an “inevitable intensification”.

The decision to send four Army Air Corps Apache helicopters to Libya was made by Prime Minister David Cameron on 27 May.

Their deployment via HMS Ocean means there should be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that previously relied on the use of Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.

But the Apaches operate at lower altitudes and could be targeted by Libyan forces loyal to Col Gaddafi, which still have access to thousands of surface-to-air missiles.

Labour MP Graham Allen claimed the introduction of Apaches was “mission creep” and said there needed to be a fresh debate in the House of Commons on Libya.

Nato intervened in Libya after the UN passed a resolution for the protection of civilians, amid a two-month revolt inspired by other uprisings in the Arab world.

It has intensified raids in recent weeks with attacks on command-and-control structures in the capital Tripoli.

The intervention was initially led by France, Britain and the US until 31 March – when Nato took over. It was given an initial 90 days, which would have run out on 27 June.

On Wednesday, UN investigators accused government forces in Libya of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Rights experts said they had found evidence of crimes including murder and torture, in a pattern suggesting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was behind them.

The UN mission also said opposition forces were guilty of abuses that would constitute war crimes, although they were not so numerous.

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