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Western-Arab talks to focus on Libya after Gaddafi | Western-Arab talks to focus on Libya after Gaddafi |
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Western and Arab nations are to meet in the United Arab Emirates to discuss how events in Libya might develop if Col Gaddafi were no longer in power. | Western and Arab nations are to meet in the United Arab Emirates to discuss how events in Libya might develop if Col Gaddafi were no longer in power. |
The so-called Contact Group is also expected to firm up its pledge to set up a fund to help the Libyan rebels. | The so-called Contact Group is also expected to firm up its pledge to set up a fund to help the Libyan rebels. |
The meeting comes as Nato intensified its air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. | The meeting comes as Nato intensified its air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. |
Meanwhile, 14 rebels were reportedly killed in the city of Misrata as they tried to push back government troops. | Meanwhile, 14 rebels were reportedly killed in the city of Misrata as they tried to push back government troops. |
Health officials and a rebel spokesman said more than 20 others were wounded when government forces responded with heavy artillery fire. | Health officials and a rebel spokesman said more than 20 others were wounded when government forces responded with heavy artillery fire. |
In a separate development, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) said there was evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon of war against rebel forces. | In a separate development, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) said there was evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon of war against rebel forces. |
And in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council is debating a report on alleged human rights violations allegedly committed by both government troops and the rebels. | |
'End game' | 'End game' |
Top government officials from the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - will be meeting in Abu Dhabi later on Thursday. | Top government officials from the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - will be meeting in Abu Dhabi later on Thursday. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already arrived in the UAE. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already arrived in the UAE. |
Ahead of the talks, a senior US official was quoted by Reuters as saying that "the international community is beginning to talk about what could constitute [an] end game" to the Libyan conflict. | Ahead of the talks, a senior US official was quoted by Reuters as saying that "the international community is beginning to talk about what could constitute [an] end game" to the Libyan conflict. |
"That would obviously include some kind of ceasefire arrangement and some kind of political process... and of course the question of Gaddafi and perhaps his family is also a key part of that," added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. | "That would obviously include some kind of ceasefire arrangement and some kind of political process... and of course the question of Gaddafi and perhaps his family is also a key part of that," added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. |
At least two powerful explosions rocked Tripoli late on Wednesday. | At least two powerful explosions rocked Tripoli late on Wednesday. |
It was not immediately clear what was targeted in the air strike, but it reportedly happened close to Col Gaddafi's residence. | It was not immediately clear what was targeted in the air strike, but it reportedly happened close to Col Gaddafi's residence. |
In other developments: | |
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The report the UN Human Rights Council is debating in Geneva on Thursday contains what the authors say is evidence of war crimes - including murder, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians - committed by the Libyan regime, and of serious violations by rebel forces too. | |
Col Gaddafi is sending government representatives from Tripoli to answer the charges in this report after his usual diplomatic team to the UN in Geneva defected en masse in February. | Col Gaddafi is sending government representatives from Tripoli to answer the charges in this report after his usual diplomatic team to the UN in Geneva defected en masse in February. |
On Wednesday, the ICC's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he was looking into allegations that hundreds of women had been raped on Col Gaddafi's orders, including possible evidence that pro-Gaddafi security forces had been given medication such as Viagra to enhance their sex drive. | |
In March, a Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidi, made headlines around the world after she burst into a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by Col Gaddafi's troops. She is recovering at a refugee centre in Romania. | In March, a Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidi, made headlines around the world after she burst into a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by Col Gaddafi's troops. She is recovering at a refugee centre in Romania. |
Testimony from captured Libyan soldiers that rape was used as a systematic weapon of war was taken by the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding in May. | Testimony from captured Libyan soldiers that rape was used as a systematic weapon of war was taken by the BBC's Africa correspondent Andrew Harding in May. |
There has so far been no comment on the allegations by the Libyan authorities. | There has so far been no comment on the allegations by the Libyan authorities. |
Are you in Libya? To let us know what is happening near you, simply fill in the form below | Are you in Libya? To let us know what is happening near you, simply fill in the form below |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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