Spain to send diplomat to Libya for talks with rebels

13/04/2011

Spain will send a diplomat to Libya's rebel stronghold of Benghazi for talks with the Transitional National Council, the main Libyan opposition group, a Spanish diplomatic source said Wednesday.

Jose Riera, Spanish ambassador for the special mission for Mediterranean affairs, will head to Benghazi "in around two weeks" to "reinforce dialogue" with the council, the source said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez will give more details regarding Riera's mission later on Wednesday at a top-level diplomatic meeting in Doha called to discuss the crisis in Libya.

NATO has led air strikes against Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's forces for almost two weeks since taking over from a US-led coalition that began bombing the regime's heavy weaponry on March 19.

Spain has committed four F-18 fighter jets and a refueling aircraft to help enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.

It has also deployed an F-100 frigate, an S-74 submarine and a CN-235 maritime surveillance plane to help enforce an arms embargo on Libya.

© 2011 AFP

Source: Expatica.
Link: http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/spain-to-send-diplomat-to-libya-for-talks-with-rebels_142384.html.