Arming Libya rebels not allowed by UN resolutions, legal experts warn US

[BOG PERSON]

The US is likely to be in breach of the UN security council's arms embargo on Libya if it sends weapons to the rebels, experts in international law have warned.

After Hillary Clinton said it would be legal to send arms to support the uprising, lawyers analysing the terms of the UN's 26 February arms embargo said it would require a change in the terms for it not to breach international law.

"The embargo appears to cover everybody in the conflict which means you can't supply arms to rebels," said Philippe Sands QC, professor of international law at University College London.

His view was backed by other experts in international law who said they could not see how the US could legally justify sending arms into Libya under the current resolutions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/arming-libya-rebels-america-warned

[howard112211]

1. Since when do we give a hoot?

[Distant Observer]

7. Much less than a hoot

[malaise]

2. Well Hillary and Cameron claim to have found a loophole

I heard that on BBC this morning. Who would have 'thunk' it?

[dkf]

4. Sounds like we've got our own John Yoo

[tuckessee]

3. Interferring in Lybia's internal affairs violates the UN charter.....

....so I don't see they wouldn't violate it further by arming the rebels.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. This gives them a chance to do more Reagan era covert stuff!

Transformative!

[Distant Observer]

6. The Western Power WRITE UN Resolutions as needed if Russia and China does not veto