Libyan rebels rename themselves National Liberation Army

BENGHAZI—Libya’s rebel leaders, the National Transitional Council (NTC), announced Monday that they had renamed their armed forces the National Liberation Army (NLA).

“The NTC hopes that the temporary name will help better define the increasingly professional and disciplined military efforts to overcome the Kadhafi regime,” said the statement.

Rebels have been fighting troops loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi since the February 17 uprising that has effectively split the country in two, with the rebel forces entrenched in the east of the country.

But their military force is made largely of young, inexperienced volunteers and the force is poorly equipped compared to the soldiers fighting for Kadhafi.