This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-12948467

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
BBC poll suggests public split on Libya military action Libya crisis will not end in stalemate - William Hague
(about 1 hour later)
The British public is split in its support for the military intervention in Libya, according to a nationwide poll conducted for the BBC. The military intervention in Libya will not end in a stalemate, Foreign Secretary William Hague has said.
Of 2,000 asked, 38% thought the UK and its allies were right to carry out air strikes, while 35% said it was the wrong decision. He said Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime had no future because it was isolated and "can't sell any oil".
And 65% said the UK's involvement in Libya "will last for some time". Fighting has resumed in Libya, with rebel forces battling for control of the eastern oil town of Brega.
The online poll of 2,011 respondents was conducted by ICM for Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4, on 30-31 March. Earlier, a poll for BBC News suggested that two-thirds of people believed Britain's military involvement in Libya would go on for some time.
The military action has full UN authority, and government ministers have argued that the attacks have stopped a massacre. Of 2,000 people asked, 65% said the UK's involvement in Libya "will last for some time", while just 14% chose the option "will be over pretty quickly", and 20% did not know.
Coalition forces have been attacking targets in Libya for two weeks, under a UN resolution which authorises military strikes to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone.
The action followed protests against Col Gaddafi's 42-year-long rule, which began peacefully but soon escalated into violent confrontation.
Overnight, shelling resumed in Misrata, Libya's third biggest city and the last big rebel stronghold in the west, which has been besieged for weeks.
Asked on the Andrew Marr show on BBC1 about the danger of a military stalemate between pro-Gaddafi forces and rebels, William Hague said there was no future for Libya under its current leadership.
"Let's be clear, if the Libyan regime tries to hang on in this situation, they are internationally isolated, they can't sell any oil", he said.
"There is no future for Libya on that basis, and so I think even the prospect of stalemate should encourage people in Tripoli to think 'Well, Col Gaddafi has now got to go'."
'Legal and right''Legal and right'
The online poll of 2,011 respondents was conducted by ICM on 30-31 March for Broadcasting House on BBC Radio 4.
Some 38% of people thought the UK and its allies were right to carry out air strikes, while 35% said it was the wrong decision.
A government spokesman said: "The decision on British military involvement in Libya was taken by the entire Cabinet, in consultation with the US, France, Arab states and other countries, and with UN backing. It has Parliament's strong support.A government spokesman said: "The decision on British military involvement in Libya was taken by the entire Cabinet, in consultation with the US, France, Arab states and other countries, and with UN backing. It has Parliament's strong support.
"The action is being undertaken to protect the civilian population in Libya. It is necessary, legal and right.""The action is being undertaken to protect the civilian population in Libya. It is necessary, legal and right."
In the BBC poll, 38% said it was the "right decision" when asked: "All things considered, do you think that the UK and its allies made the right decision or the wrong decision to conduct military air strikes in Libya?"
35% said it was the wrong decision, while 24% said they did not know.
These figures contrast with a similar poll about the Iraq war in 2003, which suggested 53% backed military intervention.These figures contrast with a similar poll about the Iraq war in 2003, which suggested 53% backed military intervention.
In Iraq, the post-invasion bloodshed caused a dramatic drop in popularity for the action.In Iraq, the post-invasion bloodshed caused a dramatic drop in popularity for the action.
The BBC poll also asked the public how long they believed the Libyan action would last. Analysts say support for the Libya action will depend on if and when leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi goes, the number of civilian casualties, and whether there are any British military deaths.
65% chose the option "Will last for some time", while just 14% chose "Will be over pretty quickly". 20% didn't know.  rel="stylesheet" rev="stylesheet" href="/nol/shared/spl/hi/comments/css/1.3/comments-gvl3.css"/> name="dna-comments">

Comments

Pollsters say support for the Libya action will depend on if and when leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi goes, the number of civilian casualties, and whether there are any British military deaths. You are not currently signed in. href="https://id.bbc.co.uk/users/signin?target_resource=http%3A%2F%2Fidentity%2Fpolicies%2Fdna%2Fadult&ptrt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-12948467#dna-comments" class="identity-login id-cta">Sign in or href="https://id.bbc.co.uk/users/register?target_resource=http%3A%2F%2Fidentity%2Fpolicies%2Fdna%2Fadult&ptrt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-12948467%23dna-comments">register.
Indiscipline name="dna-comment-error"> name="postcomment"> name="dna-comment-error">  
    class="collections forumthreadposts">
  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107786850"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 8. Megan
Coalition forces have been attacking targets in Libya under a UN resolution which authorises military strikes to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone. This comment is awaiting moderation. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml#appear" target="_blank">Explain.
The action followed protests against Col Gaddafi's 42-year-long rule, which began peacefully but soon escalated into violent confrontation. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107786850&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
On Friday, it was reported that at least 13 people were killed when a coalition air strike hit a rebel convoy between Brega and Ajdabiya in Libya. href=" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12948467?postId=107786850#comment_107786850" title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
It is thought that an anti-aircraft gun may have been fired in celebration, and a coalition plane then opened fire on the convoy, destroying the five vehicles. Nato, which is now leading the coalition action, is investigating the incident.
  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107786832"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 7. ferrariman15
    • There were reports of further fighting in the Libyan town of Misrata on Sunday. I only have one question for Mr Hague. Why Libya and not zimbabwe, or Bahrain or Yemen or Syria?? Can't he just be honest and say they are concerned about the oil instead of this rubbish about protecting civilians!
    Residents say forces loyal to Col Gaddafi shelled a building which was previously used to treat the wounded. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107786832&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    Meanwhile, the former Libyan foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, is continuing to be questioned by intelligence and diplomatic officials in the UK. href=" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12948467?postId=107786832#comment_107786832" title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
    He arrived on Wednesday saying he had fled from Col Gaddafi's regime, as he was no longer willing to represent it.
  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107786798"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 6. Michael A
    • Scottish police and prosecutors want to talk to Mr Koussa about the 1988 Lockerbie bombing in which 270 people died. This is such an absurd poll."will last for some time""will be over pretty quickly"and "don't know"I'm sorry but a. this is not news and b. one of the most ridiculous questions of all time. If this was a piece of statistics coursework it wouldn't get a pass.
    In the 1980s he was a leading member of the Libyan Bureau for External Security (the Mathaba) which has been linked to the Lockerbie attack. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107786798&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    A Crown Office spokesperson said: "Representatives of the Crown Office and Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have been in close contact with FCO officials over recent days and will be meeting with them on Monday to discuss the situation concerning Mr Moussa Koussa further." href=" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12948467?postId=107786798#comment_107786798" title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
    • If the allied airforces attacked Gaddafi's ground troops 24/7 then the war would be over in a week.
    Report this comment
    Link to this
    • If the West had not intervened there would have been just as much condemnation for not doing anything.
    Report this comment
    Link to this
     
    Comments 5 of 8
     
    Add your comment
    You are not currently signed in. or register.