Nato 'Won't Apologise' For Libya Rebel Deaths

Nato has acknowledged its air strikes in "may have" resulted in the deaths of rebel forces on the ground in Libya yesterday - but will not apologise.

The military alliance did not know the rebels were using tanks, spokesman Rear Admiral Russell Harding said after the attack, which killed at least five people.

But a rebel commander earlier claimed Nato had been told the rebels were moving T55 and T72 heavy tanks from Benghazi to Brega.

General Abdul Fatah Younis said at a news conference in Benghazi that fighters and medics were among the dead after the bombing "carried out in error".

Saleh Faraj, a former soldier fighting with the rebels, said at least three rebel tanks were hit in the air strike.

"There was no fighting anywhere. (The warplanes) flew back and forth and then they struck our forces," said Faraj.

The incident came ater the rebels criticised Nato for failing to provide the assistance it requires.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Thursday it was now only a question of how Gaddafi's regime meets its downfall rather than whether the Libyan ruler can survive in power.

ut General Carter Ham, the head of US Africa Command, said in Washington it was unlikely the rebel forces could push Gaddafi out.

Asked at a Senate hearing about the chances that the opposition could "fight their way" to Tripoli and replace Gaddafi, Ham replied: "Sir, I would assess that as a low likelihood."

His comments underscored growing concern in Washington and European capitals that the conflict is heading toward a stalemate, with Gaddafi firmly in control in Tripoli and the poorly organised rebels unable to turn the tide even under the cover of Nato-led air power.

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "a real ceasefire should be settled immediately and military units of Gaddafi should remove the siege of some cities and withdraw back".

He also called for the creation of secure humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of aid to the Libyan people.

Libya's deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim minister accused British fighter bombers of being responsible for an attack on the Sarir oil field which killed three guards and wounded other workers.

The allegations came as Scottish authorities revealed they had interviewed defected Libyan foreign minister Musa Kusa over the Lockerbie bombing.

Nato has denied involvement in the attack on the Sarir oil field and there has been no comment from the Ministry of Defence.

However, an oil official in rebel-held east Libya said the attack was most likely the work of pro-Gaddafi forces.

Sky reporter Alistair Bunkall said: "You have got to wonder why British aeroplanes would come in from their bases in Italy and destroy an oil field. It would mark a change in tactics.

"Equally, you have the question of how the Libyan government know they were British aeroplanes, simply because they would be releasing their missiles from some distance.

"They do have different wing shapes from the French and other coalition aircraft but unless you have an eyewitness account it is very difficult to verify."

The British airstrike is said to have damaged the pipeline linking Al Sarir oil field - Libya's largest - and the rebel-held port of Tobruk.

The Sarir oilfield is located in Libya's Sirte basin, which contains around 80% of its proven reserves. The oilfield was discovered in 1961.

Meanwhile, the United States has dismissed a letter sent to President Barack Obama by Colonel Gaddafi, appealing for a ceasefire.