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/world-africa-13707685
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 8 | Version 9 |
---|---|
Libya crisis: Clinton tells allies to step up pressure | Libya crisis: Clinton tells allies to step up pressure |
(40 minutes later) | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged a group of Western and Arab powers to step up pressure to remove Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged a group of Western and Arab powers to step up pressure to remove Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. |
"Time is on our side," she told a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya. "Gaddafi's days are numbered." | "Time is on our side," she told a meeting of the Contact Group on Libya. "Gaddafi's days are numbered." |
The meeting in the United Arab Emirates is expected to firm up plans to set up a fund to help the Libyan rebels. | The meeting in the United Arab Emirates is expected to firm up plans to set up a fund to help the Libyan rebels. |
Meanwhile Tripoli has denied allegations of war crimes made at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. | Meanwhile Tripoli has denied allegations of war crimes made at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. |
Top officials from the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - are meeting in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the post-Gaddafi era in Libya. | Top officials from the Contact Group - which includes Britain, France and the US, as well as Arab allies Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar - are meeting in Abu Dhabi to prepare for the post-Gaddafi era in Libya. |
At the start of the talks, Mrs Clinton said: "As time passes, maintaining our resolve and unity only grows more important. | At the start of the talks, Mrs Clinton said: "As time passes, maintaining our resolve and unity only grows more important. |
"Alongside our military mission to protect the Libyan people, we must continue to escalate the political, diplomatic and financial pressure on Gaddafi and his regime. | "Alongside our military mission to protect the Libyan people, we must continue to escalate the political, diplomatic and financial pressure on Gaddafi and his regime. |
"Time is on our side - but we know we must sustain the pressure. Gaddafi's isolation is growing, as evidenced by the increasing number of calls for his departure." | "Time is on our side - but we know we must sustain the pressure. Gaddafi's isolation is growing, as evidenced by the increasing number of calls for his departure." |
A newly agreed mechanism to transfer funds to the Libyan rebels is now operational, officials at the meetings said. | |
Kuwait promised $180m (124m euros; £110m) to the mechanism, the emirate's foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah said. | |
The rebels' National Transitional Council (NTC) has said it needs some $3bn over the next few months. | |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
|
|
In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council is debating a report on alleged human rights violations in Libya. | In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council is debating a report on alleged human rights violations in Libya. |
The abuses include murder, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians allegedly committed by pro-Gaddafi forces, as well as serious violations by rebel forces. | The abuses include murder, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians allegedly committed by pro-Gaddafi forces, as well as serious violations by rebel forces. |
Libyan diplomat Mustafa Shaban told members that his government was "the victim of a widespread aggression" and blamed the media, opposition and foreign mercenaries for human rights abuses, including "acts of cannibalism". | Libyan diplomat Mustafa Shaban told members that his government was "the victim of a widespread aggression" and blamed the media, opposition and foreign mercenaries for human rights abuses, including "acts of cannibalism". |
In a separate development, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, 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), Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said there was evidence that Col Gaddafi had ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon of war against rebel forces. |
He said he was looking into allegations that security forces had been given medication such as Viagra to enhance their sex drive. | He said he was looking into allegations that 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 pro-Gaddafi 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 pro-Gaddafi 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. |
Meanwhile Nato has carried out further air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. At least two powerful explosions rocked the Libyan capital late on Wednesday. | Meanwhile Nato has carried out further air strikes on government targets in Tripoli. At least two powerful explosions rocked the Libyan capital late on Wednesday. |
It was not immediately clear what was targeted in the air strike, but it reportedly hit an area close to Col Gaddafi's residence. | It was not immediately clear what was targeted in the air strike, but it reportedly hit an area close to Col Gaddafi's residence. |
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. |
Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |