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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Libya: Alain Juppe says Nato is 'not doing enough' | Libya: Alain Juppe says Nato is 'not doing enough' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Nato is not doing enough to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, France's foreign minister has said. | Nato is not doing enough to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, France's foreign minister has said. |
| Libyan civilians remain at risk, Alain Juppe said, despite an ongoing bombing campaign now led by Nato. | Libyan civilians remain at risk, Alain Juppe said, despite an ongoing bombing campaign now led by Nato. |
| "Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, saying efforts so far were "not enough". | "Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, saying efforts so far were "not enough". |
| Libyan rebels opposing Col Gaddafi have been pushed back despite the air raids. | Libyan rebels opposing Col Gaddafi have been pushed back despite the air raids. |
| The US and other Western allies began air strikes on 19 March after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces. | The US and other Western allies began air strikes on 19 March after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces. |
| After initial sorties were flown under US command, Nato has since taken over responsibility for the campaign from Washington. | After initial sorties were flown under US command, Nato has since taken over responsibility for the campaign from Washington. |
| Despite this, heavy weapons are still being used to bombard the rebel-held western Libyan city of Misrata, reports say. | Despite this, heavy weapons are still being used to bombard the rebel-held western Libyan city of Misrata, reports say. |
| Libyan government forces began a renewed attack on Misrata on Monday, hours after news emerged of an African Union ceasefire plan. | Libyan government forces began a renewed attack on Misrata on Monday, hours after news emerged of an African Union ceasefire plan. |
| There are grave concerns for the humanitarian situation in Misrata and for the safety of civilians still inside the city. | There are grave concerns for the humanitarian situation in Misrata and for the safety of civilians still inside the city. |
| "It [Nato] must play its role today which means preventing Gaddafi from using heavy weapons to shell [civilian] populations," Alain Juppe said on Tuesday. | "It [Nato] must play its role today which means preventing Gaddafi from using heavy weapons to shell [civilian] populations," Alain Juppe said on Tuesday. |
| Ceasefire plea | Ceasefire plea |
| Mr Juppe's remarks came after the African Union (AU) proposed a ceasefire plan that was rejected by rebel leaders in Benghazi. | Mr Juppe's remarks came after the African Union (AU) proposed a ceasefire plan that was rejected by rebel leaders in Benghazi. |
| The plan included a call for an immediate end to hostilities, unhindered humanitarian aid, protection of foreign nationals, dialogue between opposing sides and an end to Nato air strikes. | |
| The AU said Col Gaddafi has accepted the plan, but the rebels said it was unfeasible as it did not include a provision for the Libyan leader to step down. | The AU said Col Gaddafi has accepted the plan, but the rebels said it was unfeasible as it did not include a provision for the Libyan leader to step down. |
| On Tuesday the AU urged the rebels to reconsider, blaming the Transitional National Council (TNC) - in effect the rebels' parallel government in Benghazi - for imposing preconditions. | |
| The AU "makes an urgent call on the TNC to fully co-operate, for the sake of Libya's higher interests, and assist in the quest for and implementation of a fair and lasting political solution", AFP news agency reported. | |
| In clashes reported on Tuesday, rebels near the town of Ajdabiya said three of their fighters were killed overnight amid battles with pro-Gaddafi forces, Reuters news agency reported. | |
| 'Failed state' warning | |
| In the UK, Former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has warned against the risks of civil war and the possibility of his country becoming "a new Somalia". | |
| Mr Koussa, the highest-profile figure to defect from Col Gaddafi's Libya, told the BBC in a prepared statement that the unity of Libya was essential to any settlement. | |
| "I ask everybody to avoid taking Libya into civil war," Mr Koussa said. "This would lead to so much blood and Libya would be a new Somalia." | |
| "More than that, we refuse to divide Libya. The unity of Libya is essential to any solution and settlement for Libya." | |
| In his statement on Monday he said he had been "devoted" to his work for 30 years under Col Gaddafi, and was confident that it was serving the Libyan people. | |
| However, he said, after recent events "things changed and I couldn't continue". | |
| "I know that what I did to resign will cause me problems, but I'm ready to make that sacrifice for the sake of my country," he said. | |
| He added that the solution in Libya would come from the Libyans themselves, through discussion and democratic dialogue. | |
| Libya's Minister for Social Affairs, Ibrahim Zarouk al-Sharif, said he could not comment on Mr Koussa's statement while the former foreign minister was "captured" in a hostile country. |