This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.
Libya rebels ask for oil export clearance: United Nations Benghazi's transitional council concerned over lack of funds and energy sales issues, says UN special enjoy
Rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi in Libya have asked the United Nations to help them restart oil and gas exports from ports they control, according to a UN statement. The statement confirmed what the rebel Transitional National Council said this week after a visit by a UN special envoy. It did not provide any information on what the UN might do, and a spokeswoman was unable to clarify the UN position on Wednesday. "The council raised concerns about the lack of funds as well as issues surrounding the marketing and sale of oil and gas in Libya, stressing that the issues required urgent attention in order to enable the economy to function effectively," the UN statement quoted its special envoy Abdel Elah al-Khatib as saying after a meeting with Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the council. A tanker arrived at an east Libyan port on Tuesday to load the first crude cargo since unrest shut down exports in early March, but mystery surrounded the potential buyer. Although Qatar has said it will market Libyan crude, oil traders are wary of breaking UN sanctions against the country which were designed to put pressure on the Gaddafi regime. Before the crisis, Libya was exporting around 1.3 million barrels per day and since exports were halted, Brent crude futures have risen by around 20 per cent to above US$120 a barrel. Shipping sources said last week Libyan oil shipments were at a standstill, with no one attempting to hire tankers due to violence and the impact of sanctions on Gaddafi. NATO has also been enforcing a UN arms embargo in international waters aimed at stopping the "flow of arms and mercenaries" to Gaddafi. Ship officials said the move may add disruptions for Libya-bound vessels.
