Obama administration intends to give Libyan opposition $25 million

PanARMENIAN.Net - Officials announced that the Obama administration intends to give the Libyan opposition $25 million in non-lethal assistance in the first direct U.S. aid to the rebels after weeks of evaluating their capacities and objectives.

In the midst of a discussion whether to provide the rebels extensive assistance, involving cash and probably weapons and ammunition, the Congress was informed by the administration that President Barack Obama plans to use his so-called "drawdown authority" to give the opposition, managed by the Transitional National Council in Benghazi, up to $25 million in surplus American goods to help defend civilians in rebel-held areas threatened by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The aid will support the council and "our efforts to protect civilians and the civilian populated areas that are under threat of attack from their own government in Libyan," said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who advised that Obama approve the assistance. Clinton said the aid "will be drawn down from items already in government stocks that correspond with the needs that we have heard from the Transitional National Council," OFW reported.