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William Hague has told MPs that the National Security Council has decided to supply the Libyan opposition movement with telecommunications equipment.
In a statement to the Commons this afternoon, the foreign secretary said Britain was not engaged in arming the opposition forces but would aid them in communicating with the outside world.
"We are prepared to supply non-lethal equipment which will help with the protection of civilian lives and the delivery of humanitarian aid," he said.
"Given the urgent need of the Interim Transitional National Council for telecommunications equipment, the National Security Council has decided this morning to supply them with such equipment."
A United Nations arms embargo prohibits the sale of delivery of military equipment to either side of the Libyan conflict. Some have speculated that it would be legal to supply the rebels in the interests of protecting civilians.
Pressed by Labour's Chris Bryant on what exactly he meant by telecommunications equipment, Hague said he meant just that.
"I don’t mean missile guidance systems by telecommunications equipment. I mean telecommunications equipment," he said.
Hague told Bryant that he did not want to go into details as that would make it easier for the Gaddafi regime to interfer with the opposition movement.
He said the equipment would give them the rebels the ability to speak to each other about where there was a "desperate humanitarian need" or when a town was under attack.
And he said it would assist them in speaking to the outside world and give the coalition a greater understanding of the situation on the ground.
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander asked whether opposition forces had been in receipt of any support in maintaining or upgrading any equipment they already possessed from British forces.
Hague told Alexander: "I'm not aware of any such efforts so the answer to that is no."
The foreign secretary also confirmed that a further British diplomatic mission has travelled to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi led by Christopher Prentice, Britain's ambassador to Rome.
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