US to give surplus goods to Libyan rebels

The Obama administration tonight announced plans to give the Libyan opposition millions of dollars of aid.

Amid a debate over whether to offer the rebels broader assistance, including cash and possibly weapons and ammunition, the administration has informed Congress that President Barack Obama intends to use his so-called “drawdown authority” to give the opposition, led by the Transitional National Council in Benghazi, up to $25m (€17.23m) in surplus American goods to help protect civilians in rebel-held areas threatened by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces.