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Libya air strikes go on until Gaddafi climbdown - US Libya air strikes go on until Gaddafi climbdown - US
(40 minutes later)
Allied strikes on Libya will continue until its leader, Col Gaddafi, meets UN terms, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told world leaders.Allied strikes on Libya will continue until its leader, Col Gaddafi, meets UN terms, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has told world leaders.
Some 40 delegations are meeting in London to discuss the next steps for Libya amid UN-backed military action.Some 40 delegations are meeting in London to discuss the next steps for Libya amid UN-backed military action.
Forces opposed to Col Gaddafi, helped by foreign air strikes, have made rapid progress in recent days but pro-Gaddafi forces are now pushing them back.Forces opposed to Col Gaddafi, helped by foreign air strikes, have made rapid progress in recent days but pro-Gaddafi forces are now pushing them back.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said allied action was saving lives.UK Prime Minister David Cameron said allied action was saving lives.
Tuesday's conference brings together all members of the coalition in the military operation, as well as the UN, Nato, the African Union and Arab League.Tuesday's conference brings together all members of the coalition in the military operation, as well as the UN, Nato, the African Union and Arab League.
The BBC's chief political correspondent, Laura Kuenssberg, says leaders are seeking clarity over the mission.The BBC's chief political correspondent, Laura Kuenssberg, says leaders are seeking clarity over the mission.
They are also considering what happens next and how to make sure people in Libya have enough food and water, she adds.They are also considering what happens next and how to make sure people in Libya have enough food and water, she adds.
Snipers
Opening the meeting, Mr Cameron said Col Gaddafi was carrying out "murderous attacks" on the city of Misrata.Opening the meeting, Mr Cameron said Col Gaddafi was carrying out "murderous attacks" on the city of Misrata.
"Gaddafi is using snipers to shoot people down and let them bleed to death in the street. He's cut off food, water and electricity to starve people into submission and he is harassing humanitarian ships that are trying to get into the port to do what they can to relieve their suffering."Gaddafi is using snipers to shoot people down and let them bleed to death in the street. He's cut off food, water and electricity to starve people into submission and he is harassing humanitarian ships that are trying to get into the port to do what they can to relieve their suffering.
The see-sawing military fortunes of the government and opposition forces in Libya make the establishment of a coherent diplomatic strategy for the country that much harder.
By the nature of these things, if the Gaddafi regime were to collapse it might do so very suddenly. But equally some kind of military stalemate may result with the country divided between government and opposition forces.
Part of the purpose of today's London conference is to bolster the coalition for the path ahead. But equally the goal is to begin to elaborate a political future for Libya independent of Col Gaddafi. That is not helped by the fact that the opposition is more akin to a popular revolt than a coherent political formation.
Regime change - we are told by the British, French and US leaders - is not on the agenda, but nonetheless, they all say, Col Gaddafi must go.
But if the coalition bombing of his military forces on the ground doesn't shift him, the question remains, what then?
"He continues to be in flagrant breach of the UN Security Council resolution. That is why there has been such widespread support among the Libyan people and in the wider Arab world for the action that we're taking. It has saved lives and it is saving lives.""He continues to be in flagrant breach of the UN Security Council resolution. That is why there has been such widespread support among the Libyan people and in the wider Arab world for the action that we're taking. It has saved lives and it is saving lives."
He said his message to the people of Libya was that there were "better days ahead".He said his message to the people of Libya was that there were "better days ahead".
Mrs Clinton said action would continue until Col Gaddafi met UN terms, stopped attacking civilians and pulled back his forces.Mrs Clinton said action would continue until Col Gaddafi met UN terms, stopped attacking civilians and pulled back his forces.
However, as the conference got under way pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya were using heavy weaponry to halt the advance of rebel fighters. She added that military means alone would not force Col Gaddafi out after 42 years in power, and that further sanctions and diplomatic pressure were needed.
The rebels had made quick progress westwards from their stronghold in Benghazi, seizing a number of coastal communities and important oil installations, including Ras Lanuf, Brega, Uqayla and Bin Jawad, but were now being pushed back. "All of us must continue to increase the pressure on and deepen the isolation of the Gaddafi regime through other means as well," she said.
Her comments come as the US steps back from its lead role in the mission and hands over authority to Nato.
Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said he would lead efforts to co-ordinate the international effort to map out Libya's future.
"The transition to a democratic government and society will take time and the support of us all. The United Nations is ready and willing to help the people of Libya in this transition," he said.
As the conference got under way, pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya were using heavy weaponry to halt the advance of rebel fighters.
The rebels had made quick progress westwards from their stronghold in Benghazi, seizing a number of coastal communities and important oil installations, including Ras Lanuf, Brega, Uqayla and Bin Jawad.
But they have since been forced to abandon the key town, Bin Jawad, and the city of Misrata, closer to Tripoli, is reported to be under heavy attack from government troops.
Ahead of the summit, Foreign Secretary William Hague discussed humanitarian needs with a Libyan opposition envoy.Ahead of the summit, Foreign Secretary William Hague discussed humanitarian needs with a Libyan opposition envoy.
'Gaddafi's retirement home''Gaddafi's retirement home'
Earlier, Mr Hague said the UK wanted him "to go, to leave power," but denied the coalition was involved in "regime change".Earlier, Mr Hague said the UK wanted him "to go, to leave power," but denied the coalition was involved in "regime change".
"We're not in control of where he might go. I'm not going to choose Col Gaddafi's retirement home," he told BBC News."We're not in control of where he might go. I'm not going to choose Col Gaddafi's retirement home," he told BBC News.
"Of course I believe he should face the ICC [International Criminal Court]. But of course where he goes, if he goes, is up to him and the people of Libya to determine and we will not necessarily be in control of that.""Of course I believe he should face the ICC [International Criminal Court]. But of course where he goes, if he goes, is up to him and the people of Libya to determine and we will not necessarily be in control of that."
At a meeting of the UK cabinet ahead of the summit, ministers were updated on the progress of the military campaign and on Mr Hague's meeting with Libyan Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC) special envoy Mahmoud Jabril.At a meeting of the UK cabinet ahead of the summit, ministers were updated on the progress of the military campaign and on Mr Hague's meeting with Libyan Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC) special envoy Mahmoud Jabril.
However, no opposition representatives will attend the conference, and Mr Hague said he did not take it for granted that the ITNC was necessarily the future government of Libya - it was up to the country's people to decide.However, no opposition representatives will attend the conference, and Mr Hague said he did not take it for granted that the ITNC was necessarily the future government of Libya - it was up to the country's people to decide.
"The ITNC is an important and legitimate political interlocutor and the UK is committed to strengthening our contacts with a wide range of members of the Libyan opposition who are working to create a Libya where the legitimate aspirations of its people can be met," he said in a statement."The ITNC is an important and legitimate political interlocutor and the UK is committed to strengthening our contacts with a wide range of members of the Libyan opposition who are working to create a Libya where the legitimate aspirations of its people can be met," he said in a statement.
"We considered how best the UK, as well as other attendees at today's London conference, can best support the Libyan people, and I asked for Mr Jabril's assessment of the humanitarian needs in Libya and priorities for international assistance.""We considered how best the UK, as well as other attendees at today's London conference, can best support the Libyan people, and I asked for Mr Jabril's assessment of the humanitarian needs in Libya and priorities for international assistance."
Mr Cameron will also meet Mr Jabril later on Tuesday.Mr Cameron will also meet Mr Jabril later on Tuesday.
It is hoped the presence of Arab countries Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates will help to strengthen the alliance behind military action.It is hoped the presence of Arab countries Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates will help to strengthen the alliance behind military action.
But Russia, which says the action has gone beyond the terms of the UN resolution that authorised it, said it would not attend.But Russia, which says the action has gone beyond the terms of the UN resolution that authorised it, said it would not attend.
Attendees include UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and UN Special Envoy for Libya Abdelilah Mohamed al-Khatib. Attendees include Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe and UN Special Envoy for Libya Abdelilah Mohamed al-Khatib.
The shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, said he would like to see a "deepening and broadening" of the coalition and greater clarity of the relationship between the Nato command and control structure and the broader political groupings.The shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, said he would like to see a "deepening and broadening" of the coalition and greater clarity of the relationship between the Nato command and control structure and the broader political groupings.
'Countless lives' The coalition military action is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi. It has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance.
Nato began two days ago to take over control of the coalition military action, which is aimed at enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya and protecting civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.
Nato has denied air strikes are meant to provide cover for a rebel advance.
Addressing Americans on Monday evening, President Barack Obama insisted US military involvement would be limited.
He said US intervention had saved "countless lives" threatened by the forces of the "tyrant" Col Gaddafi, but having led the initial campaign, the US would hand over to Nato allies on Wednesday.