TRIPOLI – Russia accused France yesterday of committing a “crude violation” of a UN weapons embargo by arming Libyan rebels, while Washington said it was legal, creating a new diplomatic dispute over the western air war.
France confirmed on Wednesday it had air-dropped arms to rebels in Libya’s Western Mountains, becoming the first Nato country openly to acknowledge arming the insurgency against Gadafy’s 41-year rule. Paris said it believed it had not violated the UN embargo. – (Reuters)