The Defence Ministry has not confirmed the reports. But SAS members
warned that the British training would enhance Libya's ability to conduct
insurgency strikes and train other anti-Western groups, including the Irish
Republican Army.
"There is a long list of British soldiers who have died because of
Gadhafi funding terrorists," former SAS soldier Robin Horsfall said. "The
SAS is being ordered to do something it knows is morally wrong."
The British training effort in Libya was raised in 2004 when London and
Tripoli began to discuss avenues of cooperation. The sources said the final
agreement for military cooperation was signed in early 2009.
In August 2009, Britain released a Libyan agent, Abdul Basset Al
Megrahi, who had been serving a life sentence for the bombing of a U.S.
airliner in 1988.
Officials have acknowledged that the release was part of an effort by the
government of
Prime Minister Gordon Brown to improve defense and energy ties with Tripoli.
The British Foreign Office has acknowledged cooperation with Libya on
defense issues. But the office as well as the military refused to confirm or
deny the Telegraph report.
"We have ongoing cooperation with Libya in the field of defence," the
Foreign Office said. "But to suggest that this is part of any deal related
to Megrahi is simply untrue."
