The United Nations is considering sending hundreds of security operatives to support the Libyan rebels’ plan to stabilise the country once the current conflict is over, according to a leaked official document.
The deployment would include 200 military observers, in addition to a core staff of 61 civilians who would man a proposed UN mission in Libya. The staff would be sent for an initial three months with their deployment extended depending on need.
The leaked report – published on InnerCityPress.com – adds that a requested would have to be made by the Libyan transitional authorities and endorsed by the UN Security Council for the plan to be implemented.
UN secretary general refused to take press questions about the leaked document on 26 August, and had yet to comment by press time.
The news came amid the manhunt for Libyan leader Col Gaddafi, whose whereabouts remained unknown as of 30 August.
Meanwhile, the Algerian government announced the arrival on Monday of some of the dictator’s family members in the country.
The Algerian foreign ministry named them as Col Gaddafi’s wife Safia, daughter Ayesha, and sons Muhammad and Hannibal, who keep a low political profile.
Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) criticised the Algerian government for offering them a safe heaven, and warned that it would be seen as an act of aggression if Algeria doesn’t send them and other Gaddafi loyalists back to Libya.
“We have promised to provide a just trial to all those criminals,” media reports quoted NTC spokesman Mahmoud Shamman as saying. “We are warning anybody not to shelter Gaddafi and his sons.”
Col Gaddafi’s four-decade reign is effectively over, despite his loyalists forming pockets of resistance across the country. The NTC has vowed to fish him out of hiding “dead or alive”, putting a $2m bounty on his head.
Despite being on the run, the NTC believes the Gaddafi still poses a significant danger to the country. NTC head Mustafa Abdul Jalil urged Nato and other supporters to redouble their efforts to secure his capture.
