US OKs oil deals with Libya opposition

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177089.html

The United States has permitted oil deals with Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) in an effort to financially push the fight against the country's ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

The order, issued by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, will remove legal difficulties pertaining to the ownership of Libya's oil for potential buyers, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The move comes despite sanctions against Libya's oil sections previously imposed by the US and the European Union to pressure Gaddafi regime to stop killing civilians.

Opposition council's oil transactions will be managed by Qatar Petroleum or Vitol group of companies. The first oil shipment is expected to arrive in Singapore on Thursday and is planned to head for China after refueling.

Meanwhile, Russia's Premier Vladimir Putin says Libya's oil resources have been the main objective of the NATO-led military campaign in the North African country.

Washington has not formally recognized the TNC, a measure taken by Italy, France and Qatar. However, President Barack Obama has approved $25 million in non-military aid to opposition people who control the eastern parts of Libya.

US Ambassador to Libya Gene Cretz says the opposition council is “working through the normal bugs that would be part of any stand-up transitional government ... in a country where you have not had politics for 40 years,” and thus deserves the US support.

US Senator John McCain has warned that the war in Libya could reach a stalemate if Washington does not arm the revolutionary forces fighting against Gaddafi regime. He also voiced opposition to the introduction of US ground forces in Libya.