Turkey warns against supplying arms to Libyan rebels

Mar 31, 2011, 16:51 GMT

London - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Thursday that the possible supply of arms to rebels in Libya could be 'dangerous' and promote terrorism.

Speaking after talks in London with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Erdogan said arming the rebels would be 'inappropriate.'

'Our view at the moment is negative because there is no party state established at the moment. In our view this could also create an environment which would be conducive to terrorism and that would, in itself, be dangerous.'

By contrast, Britain has argued that supplying the opponents of Libya's Moamer Gaddafi with weapons would be legal under the UN Resolution which sanctioned the intervention in Libya.

Erdogan said NATO was facing a 'very important test' in the current conflict with Libya which should be resolved within the 'shortest possible time.'

'We do not wish to see a situation resembling that of Afghanistan,' said Erdogan. It was important that the coalition's involvement in Libya had widespread political backing in the region and from the Libyan people.

Turkey, which as a member of NATO is taking an active part in the Libya campaign, would make a continuous political assessment of the situation in Libya.

Any solution to the conflict should be 'in line with the wishes of the Libyan people' who wished to see peace established in Libya as soon as possible.

Cameron praised Turkey's 'vital contribution and powerful diplomatic role' in the conflict, and said Turkey would be a member of the Libya Contact Group established at an international Libya Conference in London earlier this week.

Read more about Great Britain

Read more about Libya Conflict

Read more about Turkey