France Provided Weapons, Food To Libyan Rebels

Reuters reports:

Citing unidentified sources, Le Figaro newspaper said on Wednesday France had parachuted "large amounts" of weapons, including rocket launchers, assault rifles, machine guns and anti-tank missiles into the Jebel Nafusa region.

The move, it said, was an effort to give impetus to a rebel push toward Gaddafi's stronghold in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

"There were humanitarian drops because the humanitarian situation was worsening and at one point it seemed the security situation was threatening civilians who could not defend themselves," armed forces spokesman Thierry Burkhard told Reuters.

"France therefore also sent equipment allowing them to defend themselves, comprising light weapons and munitions," he said, adding that the drop in early June had included medicine and food.

The rebellion against Gaddafi's 41-year rule has made only slow progress since NATO-led countries began bombing three months ago, but rebels say they are finally advancing closer to the Libyan capital.

Rebels based in the Western Mountains region southwest of the capital made their biggest breakthrough in weeks on Sunday to reach the town of Bir al-Ghanam, where they are now fighting pro-Gaddafi forces for control.