ROME: Arming Libyan rebels would be an “extreme” measure likely to divide the international community, Italian foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari warned Wednesday.

“Arming the rebels would be a controversial measure, an extreme measure that could certainly divide the international community,” Massari said in a radio interview with Radioanch'io.

The idea of arming the insurgents to force Libyan leader Muammer Qadhafi to step down from power was floated at a London conference on Libya on Tuesday and not immediately ruled out by France or the United States.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Paris was prepared to hold discussions on the issue while US President Barack Obama also said he did not rule out arming the rebels as they seek to make territorial gains.

Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Tuesday that participants at the London conference had unanimously agreed that Qadhafi should leave the country. – AFP