Foreign secretary visits Benghazi while British and French gunships batter Gaddafi's radar station and command posts
Hague meets Libyan rebels as Apache attacks intensify assault on Gaddafi
William Hague said that 'Britain remains a strong and true friend of Libya'. Photograph: Ian Nicholson/AFP/Getty Images
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Xan Rice in Tripoli and Kim Sengupta aboard HMS Ocean, off the Libyan coast guardian.co.uk, Saturday 4 June 2011 22.42 BST
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Door gunners aboard a French attack helicopter over the Libyan coast, after taking off from the carrier Tonnere to stage a raid on Gaddafi’s forces. Photograph: Reuters
Britain demonstrated its solidarity with the cause of the Libyan rebel forces in a dramatic fashion yesterday, as the foreign secretary, William Hague, became the first government minister to visit their stronghold of Benghazi in the east of the country. Following his unannounced visit he said he had seen the "inspiring" hope of many Libyans for freedom.
Hague's visit came in the wake of the first attacks by British Apache helicopters which targeted Muammar Gaddafi's troops, destroying a radar station and a military checkpoint during a night-time raid. They marked a sharp escalation in the Nato campaign in Libya.
Hague and the international development secretary, Andrew Mitchell, discussed a political roadmap for Libya's future with the head of the National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdul Jalil. The council is recognised by the UK as the legitimate post-Gaddafi government and has been given significant non-military assistance by the British government. Hague stressed the importance of "developing plans for a competent, inclusive and transparent administration that includes clear civilian control of military and regional representation".
The ministers spoke about British humanitarian assistance, visited a medical centre and laid a wreath at Commonwealth war graves before meeting citizens in Benghazi's Freedom Square.
"We are here today for one principal reason: to show our support for the Libyan people and for the National Transitional Council, the legitimate representative of the Libyan people," Hague said. "We are here together as part of a coordinated and strategic approach to Libya – ensuring that our military, diplomatic and development actions are aligned."
Renewing calls on Gaddafi to go, he said the dictator was "isolated internationally and domestically" and "continues to abuse human rights without mercy or compunction".
Hague added: "Of course we all want a political, not a military, solution to any conflict, including this one. But that is only possible if Colonel Gaddafi will go.
"You only have to talk to the people here, see the graffiti that is written on all the walls, listen to anybody in the street, to realise that there isn't a political solution that involves Gaddafi still being at the head of Libya."
Mitchell announced new British support for the clearance of mines in Misrata, Benghazi and other affected areas to help ensure the safety of 200,000 people. Of the 4,000 wounded people that have been treated in Misrata alone so far, more than 400 have reportedly required limb amputations, according to the Foreign Office. The British office in Benghazi is now the largest in north Africa after Cairo.
After the talks, Hague wrote on Twitter: "In Malta, returning from Benghazi. The work and hope of many Libyans for freedom is inspiring, as I've now seen for myself."
Earlier, one of the two Apaches came under light-arms fire from forces loyal to Gaddafi near Brega, a strategic oil city close to the eastern frontline. Both helicopters returned undamaged to HMS Ocean, stationed off the Libyan coast. French Tigre and Gazelle helicopters struck separately, hitting 15 military vehicles and five command buildings at an undisclosed site.
The new air operation is expected to boost the morale of the rebels and may help break the military stalemate. Four months into the conflict, rebel forces are holding their ground in various parts of the country but have been unable to make strong advances towards Tripoli because better-equipped government forces still hold towns along key routes to the capital.
As part of its mission to protect civilians, Nato has relied on jets flying nearly three miles above the ground to target Gaddafi's command centres and military arsenal, especially weapons and vehicles deployed in open areas. But the introduction of combat helicopters, which can fly more slowly at low altitudes, will give the alliance a key advantage in close-quarters fighting, allowing it to pinpoint targets in built-up locations where Gaddafi's troops are dug in and to reduce the chance of what the military terms "collateral damage".
"This is an escalation in support of the civilians Gaddafi is persecuting," said Lieutenant Colonel Jason Etherington, commanding officer of 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps. He added: "This is all part of a campaign to step things up. We are stepping things up, bringing another capability for protection of civilians."
In a statement, Nato said that the craft would allow it to "track and engage pro-Gaddafi forces who deliberately target civilians and attempt to hide in populated areas". But the move also signals the strong intent, especially from Britain and France, to prevent the conflict from dragging on for many more months.
The defence secretary, Liam Fox, said that the use of the attack helicopters was "a logical extension" of Nato's campaign.
"This gives us a chance to target new targets in a way we weren't able to do," he said from Singapore, where he was attending a security conference. "What it does show is our willingness to use the range of assets we have to keep the pressure up. We will continue with the methods we have to degrade his [Gaddafi's] command and control, to degrade his supplies."
Nato said yesterday's mission was aimed at destroying military vehicles, equipment and forces. Major General Nick Pope, the chief of the defence staff's strategic communications officer, said the helicopters, equipped with thermal imaging capabilities, used Hellfire missiles and 30mm cannon during the attack.
At the same time, Tornado and Typhoon jets struck another military installation in Brega, and two ammunition bunkers in Waddan, in central Libya. "Our understanding of the detailed disposition of Colonel Gaddafi's forces has been improving in a very satisfactory manner, despite their efforts to conceal themselves," Pope said.
One of the Apache pilots, an Army Air Corps officer based at Wattisham, in Suffolk, who has also served in Afghanistan, said that as they hit the military checkpoint, they came under "a direct threat". "We had made sure that we were looking at a definite military target, rather than a civilian one, and we took out the threat," he said.
"Most of our pilots have experience of Afghanistan and of course we are facing something completely new in Libya. There is always a degree of trepidation, but the Apache provides us with great protection and brings us safely back home."
The deployment of the low-flying Apache helicopters, which have been used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan, raises the possibility of western forces suffering casualties for the first time in the war.
Nonetheless Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, commander of Nato's Libyan operation, indicated that the helicopters would be used again.
"We will continue to use these assets whenever and wherever needed, using the same precision as we do in all of our missions," he said.
The decision to send four British Apache helicopters to Libya was made by David Cameron on 27 May. Their deployment via HMS Ocean means there should be less chance of civilian casualties in operations that previously relied on the use of Tornado and Typhoon aircraft.
Rebel forces are concentrated in three main areas spread across Libya. In the east, where the revolution started in February, they are trying to push towards the west from Ajdabiya. Brega is the next town along the highway, and Nato hopes that the helicopter attacks may weaken loyalist defences to the extent that the rebels can push through. Separately, the opposition forces also control Libya's third city, Misrata, 130 miles (210km) from Tripoli, as well as several small towns in the western Nafusa mountain range.
Gaddafi has become increasingly reclusive in Tripoli as the Nato bombing campaign has intensified. While members of his regime continue to defect, his diplomatic isolation is near complete, with China holding initial talks with rebel representatives this week. Yet Gaddafi, who has ruled since 1969, remains defiant, and has refused to entertain suggestions that he leave power or go into exile.
Nato's involvement in Libya stems from the UN security council resolution authorising all necessary measures to protect civilians in the country under threat of attack.
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