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Libya: Nato must do more, say France and UK Libya: Nato must do more, say France and UK
(about 1 hour later)
Nato must do more to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, the French and British foreign ministers have said.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, but a Nato general said the alliance was "doing a great job".The UK's William Hague urged Nato allies to intensify military operations, but a Nato general said the alliance was "doing a great job".
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.
Meanwhile in the UK, the Foreign Office has confirmed that the most high-profile minister to flee Libya, Moussa Koussa, has left the UK for meetings in Qatar. Pro-Gaddafi forces launched fresh artillery attacks on the rebel-held western city of Misrata on Tuesday.
On Monday Mr Koussa told the BBC Libya must not slide into civil war or risk becoming a failed state. Rebels in the town told Reuters news agency they had defended against two separate offensives by the government.
'Intensify efforts''Intensify efforts'
Speaking out about the military campaign, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Nato needed to be more assertive in its operations in Libya.Speaking out about the military campaign, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Nato needed to be more assertive in its operations in Libya.
"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough".
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.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.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.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.
"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough".
William Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, stressing that Col Gaddafi needed to step down: "We must maintain and intensify our efforts in Nato.William Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, stressing that Col Gaddafi needed to step down: "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."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."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.
In France's National Assembly, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said there was a limit to Nato's current capability.In France's National Assembly, Defence Minister Gerard Longuet said there was a limit to Nato's current capability.
"Today we have no support in the ground attack role, without which there's no chance of breaking the siege of towns like Misrata or Zenten," he said."Today we have no support in the ground attack role, without which there's no chance of breaking the siege of towns like Misrata or Zenten," he said.
That sentiment was echoed by a senior Libyan rebel, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. He said Nato could not relieve besieged cities and appealed for arms and supplies.That sentiment was echoed by a senior Libyan rebel, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. He said Nato could not relieve besieged cities and appealed for arms and supplies.
"Nato's air fleet cannot deliver the occupied cities where Gaddafi's forces, using the civilian populations as a human shield, have now taken cover," Reuters news agency reported him as saying. The rebels needed time to build a viable army, he added."Nato's air fleet cannot deliver the occupied cities where Gaddafi's forces, using the civilian populations as a human shield, have now taken cover," Reuters news agency reported him as saying. The rebels needed time to build a viable army, he added.
Speaking at Nato HQ in Brussels, Dutch Brig Gen Mark Van Uhm said he felt Nato was doing well "with the assets we have".Speaking at Nato HQ in Brussels, Dutch Brig Gen Mark Van Uhm said he felt Nato was doing well "with the assets we have".
The alliance had been successful in establishing a no-fly zone, protecting civilians and enforcing an arms embargo using its current capabilities, he said.The alliance had been successful in establishing a no-fly zone, protecting civilians and enforcing an arms embargo using its current capabilities, he said.
Meanwhile in the UK, the Foreign Office has confirmed that the most high-profile minister to flee Libya, Moussa Koussa, has left the UK for meetings in Qatar.
On Monday Mr Koussa told the BBC Libya must not slide into civil war or risk becoming a failed state.
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 took over operational responsibility for the campaign on 31 March.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.
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.
"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.
'A new Somalia''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. Meanwhile, Nato has denied a report made by Libyan state television that a strike by international forces killed civilians in the town of Kikla, south-west of Tripoli, on Monday.
In clashes reported on Tuesday, rebels near the town of Ajdabiya said three of their fighters had been killed overnight amid battles with pro-Gaddafi forces, Reuters news agency reported. "We can confirm there was an air strike in that region. However, it was 21 km (13 miles) southwest of the town that was mentioned on Libyan TV, Kikla. And the target was two tanks," Gen van Uhm told a news briefing.
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. "This differs significantly from what Libyan television reported."
Libyan television said the raid had killed policemen and "a number of children, women and men."
The remarks by Mr Juppe and Mr Hague 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.
In the UK, officials confirmed that the former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa had travelled to Qatar and would meet the emirate's government and Libyan representatives in the capital city Doha.In the UK, officials confirmed that the former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa had travelled to Qatar and would meet the emirate's government and Libyan representatives in the capital city Doha.
A spokesman said that Mr Koussa was "a free individual, who can travel to and from the UK as he wishes".A spokesman said that Mr Koussa was "a free individual, who can travel to and from the UK as he wishes".