Footage by the Al Jazeera television channel shows a group of six Western-looking men – described as ‘possibly British’ – talking to rebel fighters near the besieged port city of Misrata.
With their peaked caps, wraparound sunglasses and assault rifles, the group certainly appear different to the rag-tag rebel army battling Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.
Talks: South African President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Tripoli to meet Colonel Gaddafi
Elusive: The armed men quickly walk out of shot once they see the Al Jazeera camera
They are clearly visible in the Al Jazeera report by experienced British war correspondent Tony Birtley, and they hurry away as soon as they realise they have been spotted by the camera crew.
Birtley’s front-line report from Dafniya, seven miles outside Misrata, shows five of the men are armed and wearing informal sand-coloured clothes and cotton Arab scarves.
The sixth, apparently the most senior of the group, carries no visible weapon and wears a pink, short-sleeved shirt. There was speculation last night that he is an intelligence officer.
In his report, Birtley, an award-winning veteran of 20 wars who has previously worked for the BBC, ITN and Sky News, says: ‘Here, a group of armed foreigners, possibly British, are seen liaising with the fighters. It could be to facilitate forthcoming helicopter attacks.’
One possibility is that the men could be former British special forces, working privately. It has long been thought that Britain has boots on the ground in Libya. In March it was announced that Britain was sending advisers to the country to provide ‘logistical advice’ to rebels fighting in the east of the country.
The Mail has been told that ex-SAS mercenaries, funded by Arab states, could be used as forward air controllers for the rebels, calling in pinpoint air strikes on Gaddafi’s forces.
One source said: ‘We could indirectly employ former military people. A lot of the oil companies over there already have ex-special forces personnel working there.’
The Ministry of Defence spokesman said last night: ‘We do not have boots on the ground – any military activity undertaken by the UK in Libya is in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1973.’
The Al Jazeera report was aired as South African president Jacob Zuma said Gaddafi was ready for a truce to stop the fighting.
Mr Zuma, who met Gaddafi at the weekend, said he was ready to accept an African Union initiative for a ceasefire. He did not say Gaddafi was ready to step down, the central demand of the rebels.
Rebels’ spokesman Fathi Baja said Mr Zuma was in Tripoli to negotiate an exit strategy for Gaddafi, although Zuma’s office denies that.
Mr Baja said: ‘Gaddafi is in big trouble, the circle around him is deserting him.’
He said Gaddafi was a coward who will not fight to the death.
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