Gaddafi Troops Raping, Issued Viagra: U.S. Envoys

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.S. envoy to the United Nations told the Security Council on Thursday that troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were increasingly engaging in sexual violence and some had been issued the impotency drug Viagra, diplomats said.

Several U.N. diplomats who attended a closed-door Security Council meeting on Libya told Reuters that U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice raised the Viagra issue in the context increasing reports of sexual violence by Gaddafi's troops.

"Rice raised that in the meeting but no one responded," a diplomat said on condition of anonymity. The allegation was first reported by a British newspaper.

Pfizer Inc's drug Viagra is used to treat impotence.

If it is true that Gaddafi's troops are being issued Viagra, diplomats said, it could indicate that they are being encouraged by their commanders to engage in rape to terrorize the population in areas that have supported the rebels.

The use of rape as a weapon during wartime has received increasing attention at the United Nations. Last year, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed a special envoy on sexual violence during armed conflict, Margot Wallstrom.

Earlier this month, Wallstrom chided the Security Council for failing to mention sexual violence in two recent resolutions on Libya, despite having made the subject a priority.

Wallstrom said at the time that reports of rape in Libya remained unconfirmed but cited the highly publicized case of Eman al-Obaidi, the woman who burst into a journalists' hotel in Tripoli last month saying she had been raped by pro-government militiamen.

The International Criminal Court is already investigating whether Gaddafi's government committed war crimes in its violent crackdown against demonstrators who demanded greater freedoms. The crackdown sparked a rebellion that has turned into a civil war.

The U.S. mission to the United Nations declined to comment.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[Christian Cullen]

06:38 PM on 05/17/2011

That's it. Time to drop the hammer.

[quistk]

02:29 AM on 05/04/2011

Newsflash: even if this is propaganda, it's common knowledge (well, supposedly) that rape is used in war as a tool. I wouldn't be surprised. It's sick, but don't think for a second it's not possible. Most likely it has happened in this instance.

[Theophrastus]

11:38 AM on 05/02/2011

They need the Viagra. Have any of you seen what some Libyan woman look like? Eccchh

[songoftherushes]

08:44 PM on 05/01/2011

There is no evidence that Libyan military forces are being given Viagra and engaging in systematic rape against women in rebel areas, US military and intelligence officials told NBC News on Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42824884/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa

[johuyik]

05:34 PM on 05/01/2011

It's way past time that rape was made a War Crime. These soldiers need to know that there will be consequences for them that extend beyond the conflict.

[mike38]

06:19 PM on 05/01/2011

Please use your brain to think before you make an opinion about people that you don't know.

[johuyik]

07:27 PM on 05/01/2011

I have no clue what you're saying. What's your opinion on the article?

[ejackson21st]

04:59 PM on 05/01/2011

I hate to be the one to ruin the fantasy...but...
So in 2011 we have another Rice in front of the U.N. - without evidence - trying to raise fear about men and their mushroom clouds. Only this time it comes from viagra and not chemical weapons. Not a single fact is given. What is written here is:

"Rice raised the [issue] in the [closed door] meeting but NO ONE responded."
"IF it is true...diplomats said...it COULD INDICATE...that [the soldiers] are being ENCOURAGED by the commanders to engage in RAPE to TERRORIZE the population...
"The International Criminal Court is already investigating WHETHER...[on not] war crimes [have been committed] against demonstrators who demanded greater freedoms.

This sounds more like someone [Rice] engaging in talk about their [her] nighttime fantasy and then a writer trying to spice it up even more. Please people, don't let articles like this excite your own personal fantasies. It's OK to copy it and put it in a drawer beside your bed but don't keep embellishing it here as fact.

This whole story says nothing more than Gaddafi's government a provides a better health care plan than our own government and that they don't have right wing extremist screaming about whether or not Viagra is covered for men suffering from sexual dysfunction.

[PunxatawnyPhil]

06:12 PM on 05/01/2011

You are assuming that there is no evidence of sexual violence. That is totally incorrect, there is. Just because that evidence is not presented clearly, for whatever reason, does not mean it does not exist. Are we calling our UN inspectors liars? I hope not, because I don't believe they are. I have seen some pretty compelling footage from many credible news sources just looking from the outside .

I personally think they didn't respond because no one wishes to speak about the truth concerning these matters, to pretend that it doesn't exist... that is, no-one but the representatives of the UN who find witness to it and wish to bring it into the light. Are they then attacked because they are bringing up a taboo subject? I think sexual violence against women caught up in conflicts SHOULD be a strong concern, maybe even a priority.

[mike38]

06:24 PM on 05/01/2011

Actually It sounds like the Iraqi soldiers incubator's fake story again to justify the killing of the innocents.

[Blackorpheus]

03:54 PM on 05/01/2011

Sounds like propaganda put out jointly by the US and Pfizer. Why would 18-25 year-old troops need Viagra? Nor do I necessarily believe the "rape" story, which sounds like crudely inflammatory war disinformation.

[PunxatawnyPhil]

07:00 PM on 05/01/2011

More than a couple gaddafi fighters were found with viagra in their pockets upon delivery to a hospital in various wounded conditions. Some were interviewed by the attending doctors. Now I know that is only one alleged incident and no indication that it is widespread, but there are other reported incidents of sexual abuse. And tell me, why WOULD a soldier want viagra in his pockets of all things?

[Blackorpheus]

11:16 PM on 05/01/2011

Sorry. I still believe it's a crude propaganda lie.

[Enroh Mot]

12:14 PM on 05/01/2011

US envoy says that Saddam Hussein has WMD's, no wait, different government propaganda.

[Dougv]

11:37 AM on 05/01/2011

The time is now time to take the Tyrant of Tripoli out. Bush got rid of Sadam and his 2 psycho sons and sent them on to meet their 72 virgins. Kadaffyduck needs to meet his 72 virgins as well. I know the libs are scardy cats, and war is not in their profile, but it is the only thing that will stop the rapes, killings, and victimizing. Libs have to realize that dictators don't give a rip about liberalism or conservatism. The United States Marines are up to the task, but need the OK to go in and get the Nutball Gadhaffi. From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli.

[mike38]

06:32 PM on 05/01/2011

I do really feel sorry for brainless people like you "Dougv ,it seems that your brain is still virgin.
Don't you read anything ???

[kentah]

12:24 PM on 05/02/2011

Pretty much every line you wrote is based on the ignorant response to propaganda. Likely you yourself are here only to serve such propaganda.

[Veri]

10:51 AM on 05/01/2011

Viagra cause the blood vessels to expand and increases oxygen intake into the human body. This allows for erections and also for people to function under extreme stress to perform other duties such as combat, more effectivel­y.

This story is bull.

[expattam]

09:18 AM on 05/01/2011

I noticed that in almost every post that "knows" or "suspects" that this is false, and not just that HufPo should have cited more sources, there is a male name in the user ID.

Funny that.

[Larry White]

08:37 AM on 05/01/2011

Shame on you HuffPost for putting this story up. Sounds fishy to me.

[Lisa Nicol]

04:16 PM on 05/01/2011

Reuters and a host of news outlets are saying the same thing. Whose side are we on? Gaddafi, the man who uses war planes and torture on his citizens or are we on the side of right?

[mike38]

06:47 PM on 05/01/2011

Did you notice we don't talk about civilians any more !! because our reasons for going in
was the Libyan wealth & we didn't care about civilians any where including our own .
Qaddafi is the most honoarble Arab leader in the whole Arab world and Americans and
many other citizens would love to have him as their leader .Qaddafi is a pure human being who used the wealth of his country to help his own people and he refused to allow
foreign Corporations to take over the country's oil that's why he pays the price today.

[songoftherushes]

08:49 PM on 05/01/2011

Even Mullen said there was no evidence that Q was using planes against rebels.

[patriot6569]

08:36 AM on 05/01/2011

In my opinion - Pure Propaganda. Someone got hoodwinked, same as Colin Powell.

[PublicCitizen21044]

07:27 AM on 05/01/2011

Was that what John McCain was in Libya to deliver? What was the purpose of his trip otherwise?

[mike38]

06:52 PM on 05/01/2011

John McCain is a Zionist STOOGE & if he can't beat them he joined them.
He's a warmonger...Does any body believe he was in a real war ???

[ABACADABRA RABBIT]

05:53 AM on 05/01/2011

Does this mean boots on the ground?

[mike38]

06:58 PM on 05/01/2011

That's for sure & I'll not be surprised because the Libyan invasion was planned 10 years ago.
Wake up my brothers,you can't go on vacation to another US State without planning NO ?