Libya: Nato must do more, say France and UK

Posted by mojaonline Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Nato must do more to world-news-2day.blogspot.comdestroy 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.

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.

Pro-Gaddafi forces launched fresh artillery attacks on the rebel-held city of Misrata on Tuesday.

The last rebel-held area in the west, Misrata has been under siege for more than six weeks, with rights groups warning of a shortage of food and medical supplies.

'Intensify efforts'

Commenting on the military campaign, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said efforts in Libya were so far "not enough".

"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said.

Mr Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments: "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.

"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.

"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.

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