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-13872674
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Libya conflict: Italy urges suspension of hostilities | Libya conflict: Italy urges suspension of hostilities |
| (1 day later) | |
| Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has called for a suspension of hostilities in Libya to allow humanitarian aid to be brought to the war-torn country. | Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has called for a suspension of hostilities in Libya to allow humanitarian aid to be brought to the war-torn country. |
| Mr Frattini also said Nato must provide data on results of its bombing campaign and guidelines on targeting errors. | Mr Frattini also said Nato must provide data on results of its bombing campaign and guidelines on targeting errors. |
| Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa also urged a ceasefire on Tuesday, voicing reservations about the Nato campaign. | Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa also urged a ceasefire on Tuesday, voicing reservations about the Nato campaign. |
| On Sunday a Nato missile apparently misfired striking a residential area. | On Sunday a Nato missile apparently misfired striking a residential area. |
| The Libyan government said nine people including two young children were killed in the strike. | The Libyan government said nine people including two young children were killed in the strike. |
| The alliance acknowledged that civilian casualties may have resulted from it. | The alliance acknowledged that civilian casualties may have resulted from it. |
| Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi described Libya's opposition National Transitional Council as an "important dialogue partner" and an "important domestic political force". | Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi described Libya's opposition National Transitional Council as an "important dialogue partner" and an "important domestic political force". |
| Rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril has been holding talks with the Chinese leadership in Beijing. | Rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril has been holding talks with the Chinese leadership in Beijing. |
| Credibility 'at risk' | Credibility 'at risk' |
| Speaking to the lower house of the Italian parliament, Mr Frattini called for "an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities" to allow an aid corridor to be set up. | Speaking to the lower house of the Italian parliament, Mr Frattini called for "an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities" to allow an aid corridor to be set up. |
| Mr Frattini's comments are important as Italy provides most of the land bases for Nato's bombing missions, the command centre, as well as several aircraft for the strike operations. His views relate to the political impact of civilian casualties and are probably shared, if not expressed so openly, by other Nato members. | Mr Frattini's comments are important as Italy provides most of the land bases for Nato's bombing missions, the command centre, as well as several aircraft for the strike operations. His views relate to the political impact of civilian casualties and are probably shared, if not expressed so openly, by other Nato members. |
| But Italy brings other context to this. Ever since the UN-backed bombing campaign started in mid-March, Italy has been a reluctant participant. As the former colonial power, it says it has interests and responsibilities, not shared by others. | But Italy brings other context to this. Ever since the UN-backed bombing campaign started in mid-March, Italy has been a reluctant participant. As the former colonial power, it says it has interests and responsibilities, not shared by others. |
| And now there's a new pressure, from the junior partner in PM Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, the Northern League. Just this weekend, the league warned Mr Berlusconi that if he wanted its continued support, then he would have to look again at Italy's role in Libya, because of its fears about the mounting costs of the mission and because of that historical legacy. | And now there's a new pressure, from the junior partner in PM Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, the Northern League. Just this weekend, the league warned Mr Berlusconi that if he wanted its continued support, then he would have to look again at Italy's role in Libya, because of its fears about the mounting costs of the mission and because of that historical legacy. |
| "With regard to Nato, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on the dramatic errors involving civilians," he added. | "With regard to Nato, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on the dramatic errors involving civilians," he added. |
| But the French foreign ministry said Paris was against any pause. | But the French foreign ministry said Paris was against any pause. |
| Such a move "would allow [Libyan leader] Muammar Gaddafi to gain time and reorganise", said spokesman Bernard Valero, quoted by AFP news agency. | Such a move "would allow [Libyan leader] Muammar Gaddafi to gain time and reorganise", said spokesman Bernard Valero, quoted by AFP news agency. |
| "In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf." | "In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf." |
| On Monday Mr Frattini said Nato's credibility was "at risk" after the residential area strike. | On Monday Mr Frattini said Nato's credibility was "at risk" after the residential area strike. |
| Amr Moussa also cast doubt on Nato's efficacy in an interview for The Guardian newspaper. | Amr Moussa also cast doubt on Nato's efficacy in an interview for The Guardian newspaper. |
| "When I see children being killed, I must have misgivings. That's why I warned about the risk of civilian casualties," he told the UK newspaper, adding that the military campaign on its own would not be successful. | "When I see children being killed, I must have misgivings. That's why I warned about the risk of civilian casualties," he told the UK newspaper, adding that the military campaign on its own would not be successful. |
| "You can't have a decisive ending. Now is the time to do whatever we can to reach a political solution," he said. | "You can't have a decisive ending. Now is the time to do whatever we can to reach a political solution," he said. |
| An internationally supervised ceasefire was necessary, he added, followed by a transitional period "to reach an understanding about the future of Libya". | An internationally supervised ceasefire was necessary, he added, followed by a transitional period "to reach an understanding about the future of Libya". |
| African Union Chairman Jean Ping said he believed the West would ultimately accept its ceasefire plan, which paves the way for a transition but makes no mention of Col Gaddafi's departure, the main opposition demand. | African Union Chairman Jean Ping said he believed the West would ultimately accept its ceasefire plan, which paves the way for a transition but makes no mention of Col Gaddafi's departure, the main opposition demand. |
| "The stalemate is already there. There is no other way," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. | "The stalemate is already there. There is no other way," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. |
| Wing Cmdr Mike Bracken, the Nato mission's military spokesman, said it was not Nato's credibility that was questionable but "the Gaddafi regime's use of human shields [and] firing missiles from mosques". | Wing Cmdr Mike Bracken, the Nato mission's military spokesman, said it was not Nato's credibility that was questionable but "the Gaddafi regime's use of human shields [and] firing missiles from mosques". |
| Nato's mission - to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Col Gaddafi's violent response to a popular uprising. | Nato's mission - to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Col Gaddafi's violent response to a popular uprising. |
| The intervention was mandated by the UN, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over. | The intervention was mandated by the UN, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over. |
| Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days. | Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days. |