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Gates plays down Al-Qaeda's involvement in post-Gaddafi Libya

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates played down the possibility of Al-Qaeda assuming a significant role in a post-Gaddafi Libya.

In testimony before a committee of anxious and skeptical lawmakers on Capitol Hill, the military chief suggested other nations should play a role in arming the rebels.

The comments came as a US intelligence source said that CIA operatives are already in Libya making contact with rebel groups.

As reports filtered through of rebels losing ground to government forces in places like Misrata
, America's top military chiefs admitted that Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi's forces have a significant military edge.

During the testimony, Republican Jeff Miller asked if the US has any plans to arm the rebels.

Admiral Mike Mullen said: "We are not the only ones who are familiar with this. There are plenty of countries who have the ability, the arms, the skill-set to be able to do this."

Washington policy makers have reservations about arming rebels amid credible reports that some have allegiances to Al-Qaeda.

But the extent of such influence was down-played by Gates.

"The future government of Libya is going to be worked out among the principle tribes. And they are the ones that even Gaddafi has had to balance and work with. So I think for some outside group, or some element of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to be able to hijack this thing at this point looks very unlikely to me," said Gates.

After spending $550 million on "Operation Odyssey Dawn" the US will spend only about $40 million a month on the newly named Nato-run "Operation Unified Protector".

Gates said no American boots will be on the ground but the former intelligence chief refused to comment on reports that CIA operatives are already on the ground making contact with Libyan rebels.

09:25 | |

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