Libya Rebels Put $1.7M Bounty on Gadaffi's Head
Libyan rebels have offered $1.7 million for the dead or alive capture of Gaddafi, as British troops have begun to guide the rebels in the final stages of the fallen dictator’s demise, according to reports.
Mustafa Abdel Jalil, leader of the rebels’ National Transition Council, said: “We know Gaddafi’s regime is not over yet. The end will only come when he’s captured, dead or alive.”
The bounty, which was put up by two Libyan businessmen, will also come with immunity from prosecution.
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The bounty announcement came soon after the UK’s Daily Telegraph reported that Prime Minister David Cameron has sent more British troops into Libya to finalize the fall of Gaddafi’s regime.
The report said that British troops have been active in Libya for several weeks and have “played a key role in coordinating the fall of Tripoli,” including having British troops wear the same clothing and use the same weapons as locals as they hunt for Gaddafi.
However, Britain’s defense secretary Liam Fox denied the Daily Telegraph report: "We have absolutely no plans to have any British boots on the ground.”
Fox did say that NATO, which has been relying heavily on British air forces, has been heavily involved in helping the rebels locate Gaddafi, breaking from the alliance’s normal mandate of only helping civilians.
“I can confirm that NATO is providing intelligence and reconnaissance assets” to the rebels “to help them track down Colonel Gaddafi and other remnants of the regime,” Fox told Sky News.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague underscored Britain’s commitment to NATO forces helping the Libyan rebels.
"Our resolve is unwavering on this, as it has been throughout the crisis, so it's important to stress that these operations go on," he said.
"The Gaddafi regime is finished - there is no way back for the Gaddafi regime and clearly many of its key members are on the run. But there remain forces active loyal to the Gaddafi regime…As long as that remains the case and they remain a threat to the civilian population, the NATO operations will continue.”
