Pat Dollard

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WASHINGTON, Aug 22 (Reuters) –

*West concerned about Libyan weapon stockpiles

*Gaddafi has chemical and conventional weapons

The United States has pressed for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down, but a leadership vacuum raises concerns about the security of Libya’s weapons stockpiles and the danger of them falling into the hands of adversaries, officials said on Monday.

Libyan rebels have taken over most of Tripoli, Gaddafi’s location is unknown, and great uncertainty exists about who will eventually end up in charge of the country.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers warned of security concerns while Gaddafi’s rule crumbles.

“Even after Gaddafi is out of power we will have to step up and lead to ensure U.S. national security interests are safeguarded,” Rogers, a Republican, said in a statement. “In particular, we must ensure that Gaddafi’s stockpiles of advanced weapons, chemical weapons and explosives don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in February said Libya kept 9.5 tonnes of mustard gas in a secret desert location guarded by the army, but had destroyed aerial bombs designed to deliver chemicals in 2004 as part of a short-lived rapprochement with the West.

Some counter-terrorism officials were much more concerned about Gaddafi’s arsenals of conventional weapons being looted than they were about his stockpile of chemical agents, a European security official said.

The fear is that such weapons could either make their way to militant groups or insurgents seeking to destabilize other African governments. But so far there was little evidence of significant weapons leaks or militant involvement in Libyan forces opposed to Gaddafi, a U.S. official said.

“As we move forward, the international community must ensure a peaceful transition where the will of the Libyan people is heard,” U.S. Representative C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger said.

“We must also ensure radical extremist groups do not take control of the country. Libya has a large stockpile of chemical weapons and explosives that must not fall into the wrong hands,” said Ruppersberger, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. (Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by Jackie Frank)

Gaddafi’s stockpiles of chemical agents are still being closely guarded by forces loyal to the Libyan leader, a U.S. official told Reuters on Monday.