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Libya: Nato is 'not doing enough', say France and UK Libya: Nato must do more, say France and UK
(about 1 hour later)
Nato is not doing enough to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, the French and British foreign ministers say. Nato must do more to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, the French and British foreign ministers have said.
Libyan civilians remain at risk, France's Alain Juppe said, despite the ongoing Nato-led bombing campaign.Libyan civilians remain at risk, France's Alain Juppe said, despite the ongoing Nato-led bombing campaign.
The UK's William Hague urged Nato allies to intensify military operations against the Libyan regime and called on Col Gaddafi to step down.The UK's William Hague urged Nato allies to intensify military operations against the Libyan regime and called on Col Gaddafi to step down.
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.
'Intensify efforts'
"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough"."Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough".
Mr Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, saying: "We must maintain and intensify our efforts in Nato.Mr Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, saying: "We must maintain and intensify our efforts in Nato.
"That is why the United Kingdom has in the last weeks supplied additional aircraft capable of striking ground targets threatening the civilian population... Of course it would be welcome if other countries also did the same," he said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. "That is why the United Kingdom has in the last weeks supplied additional aircraft capable of striking ground targets threatening the civilian population.
What Mr Juppe's comments represent is an increasing sense of frustration at the way the military operation is going. For several weeks now there have been interventions by both Nato and other aircraft over Libya and yet still Col Gaddafi's forces are able to use heavy weapons against civilians in Misrata.
There is a fear in this capital and elsewhere that we could be heading towards some sort of stalemate - something that for the French and others would be unacceptable.
Make no mistake there is an implied criticism of Nato. The frustration creeping in here also exists in London. I think the French find it embarrassing that several weeks after this operation started the civilians in Misrata are still being hit with heavy weapons and the message - certainly from Alain Juppe is that they want to see further action taken, particularly outside of that town.
"Of course it would be welcome if other countries also did the same," he said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
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 took over operational responsibility for the campaign on 31 March.
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. Mortars and rocket launchers are thought to be hidden in built-up areas that are difficult to target safely from the air.
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 Nato said the scope of Resolution 1973 was the guide to how intense its air campaign should be.
"Nato is conducting its military operations in Libya with vigour within the current mandate. The pace of the operations is determined by the need to protect the population," the alliance said.
'A new Somalia'
State TV in Libya said on Tuesday that Nato air attacks killed a number of civilians overnight in the town of Kiklah, south-west of Tripoli. The report could not be independently confirmed.
Mr Juppe and Mr Hague's remarks came after the African Union (AU) proposed a ceasefire plan that was rejected by rebel leaders in Benghazi.Mr Juppe and Mr Hague'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 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.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.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.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".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.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.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.