Are these men SAS helping Libyan rebels? News crew films Western troops liaising with gunmen

By  Sam Greenhill for the Daily Mail   
   Updated:  15:40 GMT, 31 May 2011 

An Arab television channel has broadcast pictures which it says show Western special forces on the ground in Libya.

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.

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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.