Naples, Italy–(ENEWSPF)–7 April 2011. The accusation by Colonel Gaddafi that NATO was responsible for fires in the Sarir Oil Fields is false and is a direct result of his attacks on his own people and infrastructure.
NATO has been monitoring this area since the beginning of the month. Attacks last week by pro-Gaddafi forces have resulted in a number of skirmishes with anti-Gaddafi forces and at least one fire at an oil facility in region of Sarir.
“We are aware that pro-Gaddafi forces have attacked this area in recent days, which resulted in at least one fire at an oil facility north of Sarir,” said Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard, Commander of NATO’s Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.
“To try and blame it on NATO is a clear demonstration how desperate this regime is. We have never conducted strike operations in this area because his forces were not threatening civilian population centers from there,” Bouchard said. “The only one responsible for this fire is the Gaddafi regime and we know he wants to disrupt oil getting to Tobruk.”
Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, NATO’s operation in Libya, includes enforcing the UN-mandated arms embargo and no-fly-zone. Such operations will help protect the people of Libya and reduce the flow of arms, related material and mercenaries to and from the Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR area of responsibility.
Source: nato.int
