http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-set-to-give-arms-to-libyans-20110330-1cgbw.html?from=smh_sb

The United States has paved the way for Libya's rebel groups to be armed by the international community if air strikes to oust Muammar Gaddafi fail.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed for the first time in London that the United Nations resolution did allow for the ''legitimate transfer of arms'' to rebels if a nation chose to do so.

''Our interpretation of 1973 amended is that it overrode the absolute prohibition of arms to anyone in Libya … so there could be legitimate transfer of arms if a country chose to do that. We have not made that decision at this time,'' she said.