Washington - The United States House of Representatives voted on Thursday to forbid the Pentagon from providing military equipment, training, advice or support to Libya's rebels.
By a 225-201 margin, lawmakers debating an annual Pentagon spending bill adopted an amendment restricting Washington's ability to help fighters looking to overthrow longtime Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Republican Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma introduced the measure at a time when many American lawmakers have expressed anger at President Barack Obama's handling of the conflict, which is unpopular with the US public.
It forbids the Pentagon from providing “military equipment, military training or advice, or other support for military activities, to any group or individual, not part of a country's armed forces, for the purpose of assisting that group or individual in carrying out military activities in or against Libya”.
The House was expected to vote Friday or early next week on approving the underlying bill, which is expected to face fierce opposition in the US Senate before it can make it to Obama to sign into law. - Sapa-AFP