(3/15) U.S. aims to funnel seized funds to Libya rebels

[Hannah Bell]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration put Libya’s foreign minister on a blacklist on Tuesday and sought ways to tap into some of the billions of dollars of seized Libyan assets to aid an embattled Libyan opposition.

The Treasury Department put Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa on a blacklist shortly after the White House said it was exploring ways to funnel cash to rebels fighting forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The United States and other world powers so far have held back on the assistance the opposition is pleading for -- more weapons and a no-fly zone -- to fend off being overrun by Gaddafi's forces.

"We are exploring authorities to free up some of the seized regime assets, the $32 billion-plus that has been seized, to provide financial support for the opposition," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/us-libya-usa-assets-idUSTRE72E79X20110315?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29

[Hardrada]

1. Yes, but is there a light at the end of the funnel?