Monday, March 7, 2011

reuters:Rebels urge air strikes to protect Libya oilfields

Rebels urge air strikes to protect Libya oilfields

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE72611Q20110307

BENGHAZI, Libya, March 7 (Reuters) - Rebels in eastern Libya fear Muammar Gaddafi could act like a "wounded wolf" and attack the OPEC-producer's oilfields if the West did not seek to stop him with tactical air strikes, a rebel spokesman said on Monday.

"The West needs to move or this crazy guy (Gaddafi) will do something to the oilfields. He is like a wounded wolf. If the West does not intervene with tactical air strikes he could put the oilfields out of commission for a long time," said Mustafa Gheriani, a media officer for the rebel movement in Benghazi.

Some analysts have said Gaddafi could resort to cutting off Libya's oil supplies as a last ditch action but there has been no sign of such a move.

Gheriani also told Reuters in the rebel-held eastern city: "There are almost 17,000 people (rebel fighters) out there in Ajdabiyah and beyond, but they are scattered." (Reporting by Tom Pfeiffer; Writing by Edmund Blair in Cairo)

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