Child soldiers being recruited in Libya: UN

Geneva: UN officials say they are getting reports that child soldiers are being recruited to fight for Muammar Gaddafi loyalists in Libya.

UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado told a news agency today there is "a serious concern" that child soldiers are among the mercenaries that Gaddafi is hiring to attack rebel forces.

The spokeswoman for the UN children`s agency said the mercenaries come from Chad, Niger, Central African Republic and Sudan`s Darfur region, which are all places "with known child soldiers."
The UN special envoy for children in armed conflicts, Radhika Coomaraswamy, also says human rights groups and local civilians are providing unconfirmed reports that children are being killed and injured by taking up arms in Libya.

PTI