Libya's rebels: Students and businessmen pose with weapons and designer sunglasses

Libya's rebels: Students and businessmen pose with weapons and designer sunglasses

Posing with in beret, designer shades and with his rifle expertly shouldered, a fresh-faced Libyan freedom fighter stares defiantly into the distance.

Agriculture student Hesham, 23, is one of countless ordinary young Libyan men ready to do what the can to help force an end to Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year iron rule and breathe new life into their turmoil-ravaged country.

Now a handful have posed for the camera to show the human face of an uprising that has torn a nation in two.

Time out: Hesham, 23, is an agriculture student. But he has been forced to swap his books for an assault rifle to fight for the Libyan uprising

But these are not gnarled old war dogs, scarred by battle. They are youths in their prime - schoolboys, entrepreneurs and university students who have readily swapped their books for guns.

The portraits, by Reuters photographer Finbar O'Reilly, were taken in a burned out building of a military base in the rebel headquarters of Benghazi.

 

More...

• Loyalist forces launch dual offensive on dwindling rebel towns as Gaddafi bribes opposition to rejoin army
• 'UK could arm Libyan rebels', Hague hints as he says: 'We must make a decision soon'

Many of their weapons they seized from captured mercenaries or troops loyal to Gaddafi.

Ordinary: These are not gnarled old war dogs, scarred by battle. They are youths in their prime, like 20-year-old English student Ibrahim, left, and 26-year-old businessman Wares, right

 

 

Fresh faced: Ali is a 22-year-old entrepreneur. In designer jeans and jacket, he is one of many such men caught up in the bloody war against Colonel Gaddafi

But the release of these amazing pictures comes as William Hague today announced that the international community is approaching a 'point of decision' on military intervention in Libya.

The Foreign Secretary, who is meeting fellow G8 foreign ministers in Paris tonight, also hinted the Government may consider arming rebels.

'We are now reaching a point of decision, very clearly, on what happens next,' he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

'Clearly a no-fly zone is one of the leading propositions. It isn't the answer to everything but it has been called for by the Arab League and is something which the international community must now consider.'

Powerful: Mohammed, 18, left high school to join the resistance while law student Tawfig, 20, has also put his book on the shelf to take part

 

Any cost: Ismail, 18, also left high school to join the fight. The portraits were taken in a burned out building of a military base in the rebel headquarters of Benghazi

Mr Hague said all arms exports to Libya - including to the rebels - are subject to a UN embargo, although he suggested that that could change.

'I wouldn't exclude various possibilities on this score,' he said. 'I think Malcolm Rifkind makes a very good case. Again, this is the kind of subject which has to be discussed with our international partners.'

But these young fighters still have a long way to go before they may return to their former lives.

Help at hand? William Hague has hinted Britain may consider arming rebels such as 23-year-old entrepreneur Azwa

From Ajdabiyah there are roads to Benghazi and also Tobruk, which could allow Gaddafi's troops to encircle Benghazi.

Inspiration? The young men don't look unlike Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara in his heyday

Government tanks and planes have proved more than a match for the lightly armed, but enthusiastic rag-tag rebel force, especially in the flat desert terrain in between major towns.

The government, vowing to 'bury' the rebels, took the oil terminal town of Brega on Sunday in what looked like an increasingly confident drive towards the rebel stronghold Benghazi.

But the rebels said they had re-taken Brega last night. There was no way of verifying the rival claims.

Outside of the east, insurgents only hold Libya's third city of Misrata, 130 miles east of the capital. The city of 300,000 was quiet overnight, but residents said they were bracing for an attack by besieging elite government troops.

State television carried a confident official message. 'We are certain of our victory, whatever the price,' it said.

Analysts believe there is a very real possibility that Gaddafi's forces will have already secured victory by the time any global response is agreed.

Risk consultant Geoff Porter said: 'The international community has to act now -- not only to protect Benghazi from an onslaught but because of what it means for the rest of the world if Gaddafi is allowed to remain the leader of Libya.'