THE United States has paved the way for Libya's rebel groups to be armed by the international community if air strikes to oust Muammar Gaddafi fail.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed for the first time in London that the United Nations resolution did allow for the ''legitimate transfer of arms'' to rebels if a nation chose to do so.

Thick smoke rises over Libya’s Tajoura area, about 30 kilometres east of Tripoli, after an air strike on Tuesday. Credit:AP

''Our interpretation of 1973 amended is that it overrode the absolute prohibition of arms to anyone in Libya … so there could be legitimate transfer of arms if a country chose to do that. We have not made that decision at this time,'' she said.

Speaking at the Foreign Office after the summit on Libya late on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton stressed no formal talks about provision of arms had been on the agenda. But when asked about the possibility, both the British Foreign Minister, William Hague, and his French counterpart, Alain Juppe, stated it was possible despite the UN arms embargo.