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Qatari government officials say French-made missiles being sent to rebels in Benghazi so they can defend themselves against attacks by Gaddafi forces
Qatar is supplying anti-tank weapons to Libyan rebels in Benghazi as part of its strategy of working to overthrow the Gaddafi regime, officials in Doha have confirmed.
Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem, has said that UN resolutions on Libya permitted the supply of "defensive weapons" to opposition forces struggling to fight Libyan armour.
Qatari government officials were reluctant to be drawn on the delivery of French-made Milan missiles, thought to be by sea. "We need to send the Libyans equipment so they can defend themselves and get on with their lives," a senior source said. "These are civilians who have had to become fighters because of the situation."
The foreign secretary, William Hague, and his opposite numbers from the 21-nation Libya contact group, endorsed Qatar's position. Hague insisted the UK would supply only non-lethal equipment. France's view is similar but both countries – which are leading Nato air strikes in Libya – accept that arming the rebels is legal.
Gaddafi's government has repeatedly complained that the Qataris are supplying the rebels. Khaled Kayim, Libya's deputy foreign minister, has claimed that about 20 Qatari specialists were already in Benghazi. The emir of Qatar is the only Arab leader to recognise the interim national council in Benghazi.
Benghazi's revolutionary leadership has repeatedly pleaded with other Arab countries and the west to provide weapons capable of destroying Gaddafi's tanks and rocket launchers. But it has persistently avoided answering questions about deliveries, claiming the issue is a security matter.
However, the rebels have been shipping crates of weapons, including Kalashnikovs, rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition, to the besieged city of Misrata which is coming under daily attack by Gaddafi's forces.
One revolutionary official said the rebels felt confident enough about the weapons supply to be able to send some to Misrata without weakening the defence of Ajdabiya, the last major town before Benghazi, the de facto capital of the uprising.
Libyan government forces repeatedly bombed Misrata's port on Thursday, killing 23 people according to rebels, in an attempt to cut off the supply of arms and aid from Benghazi. The port is held by rebels along with the north and the east of the city.
Rebels warned of an impending "massacre" if Nato fails to step up its attacks on government forces in and around the city. Abdelbasset Abu Mzereiq told Reuters by telephone that at least 80 rockets were fired on a residential area. He said civilians were killed, many of whom were women and children.
Misrata, Libya's third biggest city, is the only rebel holdout in the west of the country and has been under siege for more than six weeks. Aid agencies have warned of a desperate humanitarian situation, with acute shortages of medicines, food and water. Medics from the Italian aid agency Emergency who are in the city, reported intense bombing overnight. "About 10 injured people and four dead arrived during the morning; all had been shot in the head. This was probably the work of snipers," the team said.
In Berlin, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said "atrocities" were unfolding in Misrata. "We are taking actions to respond, and those responsible will be held accountable."
Nato air strikes hit al-Assah, about 105 miles west of Tripoli, on Thursday, Libyan state television reported. Nato planes also struck the capital several times in the afternoon, sparking anti-aircraft fire.
Gaddafi made a rare public appearance on Tripoli's waterfront following the attacks, and was greeted by supporters.