Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib said yesterday he was “not aware” of any camps in Libya where Syrian rebels are training to fight President Bashar al-Assad’s rule in Syria.

Speaking at a press conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr al-Kib acknowledged support for Syria’s political opposition when he said his government, in October, was the first to recognise the opposition Syrian National Council.

“And we did that because we felt that the Syrian cause is a good cause,” Mr al-Kib said. “As far as training camps, unless this is done without government permission, which I doubt, I’m not aware of any.”

His comments came after Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin charged on Wednesday that Libya was helping train Syrian rebels to carry out attacks on Damascus government targets.

“This is completely unacceptable according to all legal standards. This activity is undermining stability in the Middle East,” he told a Security Council meeting on Libya, adding that Al-Qaeda militants were present in Syria.

“And now there is the question – is the export of revolution being turned into export of terrorism?”

Russia is Syria’s closest ally and a fierce critic of Western action in support of the rebel fighters who brought down Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi. Russia and China have vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.

A senior US State Department official told reporters on the condition of anonymity that the United States saw Mr al-Kib’s remarks on the camp as a firm denial.

When asked if Washington would oppose the training of Syrian rebels in Libya, the official replied: “That’s not an issue for me to answer. What I would say is there is a very strong sentiment among the people in sympathy with the people of Syria,” he said, citing large protests by Libyan civilians in support of the Syrian opposition.