Libya : A no lie zone

[Jan Klimkowski]

Western PMC dogs of war are receiving their filthy lucre from oil-rich states such as Qatar and their orders from NATO:

Libya: SAS veterans helping Nato identify Gaddafi targets in Misrata

Ex-SAS soldiers and private security firm employees passing information to Nato attack helicopters, sources tell Guardian

Richard Norton-Taylor and Chris Stephen in Misrata guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 31 May 2011 18.25 BST

Former SAS soldiers and other western employees of private security companies are helping Nato identify targets in the Libyan port city of Misrata, the scene of heavy fighting between Muammar Gaddafi's forces and rebels, well-placed sources have told the Guardian.

Special forces veterans are passing details of the locations and movements of Gaddafi's forces to the Naples headquarters of Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, Canadian commander of Nato forces, the sources said.

The targets are then verified by spy planes and US Predator drones. "One piece of human intelligence is not enough," a source said.

The former soldiers are there with the blessing of Britain, France and other Nato countries, which have supplied them with communications equipment. They are likely to be providing information for the pilots of British and French attack helicopters, who are expected to start firing at targets in and around Misrata this week.

Four Apache helicopters are on board HMS Ocean, which is approaching Libyan waters. Twelve French Tiger helicopters are on board the amphibious assault ship Tonnerre, which is understood to be already within striking distance of the Libyan coast. The French defence minister, Gerard Longuet, has refused to say exactly when they would be deployed, but added: "In any case, very rapidly."

The revelations about the role of the rebels' advisers follow the filming of armed westerners on the frontline with rebel fighters in Misrata. A group of six were visible in a report by al-Jazeera from Dafniya, described as the westernmost point of the rebel lines in the city. Five of the men were armed, wearing sand-coloured clothes, baseball caps and cotton Arab scarves. The sixth, who seemed to be in charge, carried no visible weapon and wore a pink short-sleeved shirt. The six were seen talking to rebels, and quickly left after they realised they were being filmed.

The Ministry of Defence insisted it had no combat forces on the ground. The only MoD personnel were in Benghazi, it added, referring to about 10 military advisers and mentors the UK has sent there. William Hague, the foreign secretary, described the advisers as "experienced military officers", and said they would advise the rebels on intelligence gathering, logistics and communications.

Senior British defence sources revealed in April that they were urging Arab countries to train the rebels. The sources said they were looking at hiring private security companies, many of which employ former SAS soldiers.

These private soldiers are reported to be paid by Arab countries, notably Qatar. British officials said they were not being paid by the UK government.

Those countries in favour of the decision to impose a no-fly zone, and hostile to Gaddafi, would be strongly opposed to any direct or official link between western advisers and Nato commanders. The advisers are being kept at arm's length, but their role is privately welcomed.

Inside Misrata, rebel fighters are prepared for the arrival of Nato attack helicopters. One rebel commander told the Guardian Nato had issued instructions for all three sections of the frontline around the city, warning rebel fighters not to move beyond prearranged "red lines" but allowing Nato to attack anything beyond.

As a result, rebel troops were falling back, leaving many checkpoints deserted. Misrata airport, which includes military facilities abandoned by pro-Gaddafi forces, was abruptly closed to visitors and ringed with armed fighters.

Rebel commanders would not give a reason, except to say that "facilities" were being constructed there, prompting speculation that Nato may be using the airport either as a base or an emergency landing zone for helicopters that are damaged over the nearby frontline.The day before, al-Jazeera filmed armed western employees of private security companies liaising with rebel units on the frontline at Dafniya.