Hague said the UK was offering 5,000 sets of body armor, 6,650 uniforms, 5,000 high-visibility vests and communications equipment to help police protect rebel leaders and international officials. The Czech Republic government recognized the NTC as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people, and delivered aid to Libyan hospitals. Early July (1–15 July) 1 July Libyan rebels came close to Bir al-Ghanam, but retreated after being met with rocket fire. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, Gaddafi's son, claimed that NATO had offered the government an "under the table" deal that would see the international arrest warrants against both men dropped. In an exclusive interview with RT, Saif Gaddafi denied that he or anyone ordered killings of demonstrators in the early days of the uprising. He said that soldiers acted in self-defense as they were attacked by mobs. Gaddafi warned Western allies that bombing of houses and offices in Europe would be a "legitimate target" since those are targeted in Libya. Gaddafi's taped message was broadcast to tens of thousands of supporters gathered in Green Square in Tripoli. 2 July The Daily Telegraph reported that the Sudan People's Armed Forces seized the southern Libyan town of Kufra. Sudanese officials denied this. The African Union called for Gaddafi to stay out of Libya talks to end the conflict. Heavy shelling fell on Misrata and Dafniya, where fighting wounded eleven rebels. NATO confirms it has been ramping up its airstrikes on military targets in western Libya in recent days, bombing Tripoli and Gharyan, a city about south of Tripoli, and armored vehicles in Bir al-Ghanam. 3 July Libya rebels braced for a new push to Tripoli. 5 July Pro-Gaddafi troops stated that they have captured a shipment of Qatari weapons that were headed to rebels by boat. NTC Minister of Defence Jalal al-Digheily reportedly met with the Qatar Armed Forces chief of staff in Doha, Qatar. 6 July Rebel fighters took the village of Al-Qawalish which is about south of Tripoli. That brought the opposition to within from Gharyan, the strategic garrison town of held by Gaddafi's troops and which dominates the main north–south road between Tripoli and the Sahara desert. The rebels claimed that Gaddafi was storing weapons in the Sahara desert and recruiting fighters from neighbouring countries there. 7 July Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there cannot be a quick outcome in Libya and that will lead to many casualties on