Britain denies 'mission creep' over trainers sent to Libya

Apr 19, 2011, 17:19 GMT

London/New York - The British government Tuesday rejected accusation of 'mission creep', following the announcement that military officers would be sent to Benghazi to train and advise rebels fighting the forces of Moamer Gaddafi.

'This is not boots on the ground, combat forces going in ... this is fully in line with the UN resolution,' Foreign Secretary William Hague said in London.

He had earlier announced that Britain's National Security Council had decided to 'move quickly' to expand the team already in Benghazi to include an additional military liaison advisory team.

The contingent would be drawn from experienced British military officers, he said. The BBC said that around 10 officers would be sent to Benghazi to provide logistics and intelligence training, as part of a joint Anglo-French operation.

The officers would not be involved in fighting, said Hague. 'This is not mission creep,' he said in a BBC interview.

Hague said the decision to add a military advisory team was consistent with UN Security Council resolutions allowing individual countries to take measures to protect Libyan civilians.

'We have stepped up our contribution to international efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Libya, in particular in Misurata,' Hague said in a statement, which was provided by the British mission to the UN in New York.

The move was necessary to help protect civilians in Libya and was compatible with the United Nations resolution that authorized a no- fly zone, said Hague.

But Menzies Campbell, a former foreign affairs spokesman of the Liberal Democrats, who are part of the coalition government, warned against 'becoming bogged down in Libya.

'Vietnam began with an American president sending military advisers. We must proceed with caution,' he urged.

The statement released in New York said a military advisory team will be added to the British diplomatic team under by Christopher Prentice, which has been 'liaising closely' with Libya's opposition National Transitional Council in Benghazi.

It said Britain had decided to supply the NTC with non-lethal means, including telecommunication equipment and protective body armour, so it can work to protect civilians.

'In particular they will advise the NTC on how to improve their military organizational structures, communications and logistics, including how best to distribute humanitarian aid and deliver medical assistance,' Hague said. 'In doing so, we will coordinate closely with other international partners also assisting the NTC.'

UN resolutions dealing with the crisis in Libya bar ground forces and international occupation of that country. NATO, which is responsible for implementing the no-fly zone over Libya, has resisted pressure to send military ground troops to assist airstrikes against Gaddafi's forces.

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