Questioned by reporters after the meeting, Foreign Secretary William Hague, who chaired the conference, said arming rebels had not been discussed.

Then, his American counterpart Hillary Clinton said it would be „legitimate“ under the terms of the UN resolution which has so far allowed the coalition to launch military action against Gaddafi‘s forces.

But this was contradicted by Nato secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Speaking to Sky News, he said giving arms to rebels would not be permitted under international law.