Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Split over Libya war widens in NATO



Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185869.html

Split over Libya war has widened among the NATO member states, with Italy calling for a ceasefire and a humanitarian pause in the ongoing strikes on the North African country.

“The need to look for a ceasefire has become more pressing,” Reuters quoted Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini as saying on Wednesday while speaking to the lower house of the Italian parliament.

“As well as the ceasefire, which is the first stage toward a political negotiation, a humanitarian stop to military action is fundamental to allow immediate humanitarian aid,” Frattini added.

Frattini's comments are important as Italy provides most of the land bases for NATO's bombing missions, the command center, as well as several aircraft for the strike operations.

Britain and France have voiced opposition to Italy's proposal. British Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman said “the right approach at the present time is to increase the pressure” on Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said they should continue to increase pressure on Gaddafi, stating that any pause in the mission would give Gaddafi the chance to reorganize himself.

Calls for a ceasefire have been made as NATO operations have reached a stalemate. Scores of civilians have recently been killed in the airstrikes by NATO warplanes.

Chairman of the African Union Commission Jean Ping said on Wednesday that promoting a ceasefire would be the only way for resolving the deadlock in Libya.

Outgoing Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa condemned the killing of civilians in NATO attacks. He called for a “genuine ceasefire under international supervision.”

At least 15 civilians were killed after several NATO missiles hit civilian houses in Sorman, west of the capital Tripoli, Libyan officials said.

On Sunday, NATO acknowledged civilian casualties in a strike in Tripoli. Libyan officials said at least nine people were killed after NATO jets attacked a residential area in Tripoli in the early hours of Sunday.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for commenting on this post. Please consider sharing it on Facebook or Twitter for a wider discussion.

Russian / Ukraine War - (Mar 08th, 2024)

How the Ukraine War Changed the World - (Mar 01st, 2024)

Redacted - Egypt's betrayal of Palestine - Vanessa Beeley

CrossTalk | Magical thinking - (Feb 28th, 2024)

Hillary Clinton Interrupted & Called Out in Berlin

We don’t want war with Israel, but if they impose it on us, we are ready – Hezbollah

ICJ delivers ruling in favour of South Africa

ICJ ruling | Court stops short of ordering Gaza ceasefire, demands that Israel prevent genocide

South Africa's Closing Argument Against Israel for Genocide at the ICJ

Wider Middle East war. US, UK strike Yemen

U.S., UK Start Another Unwinnable War In Yemen

Geopolitical Storm Brewing from Palestine to Ukraine

How the US Global Order is Challenged - With Pepe Escobar (Nov 20, 2023)

Shahid Bolsen - Message to the Israeli people

Roger Waters - To Whom It May Concern: Please Stop.

US policy slowing down China's economy w/ Jeffrey Sachs

Max Blumenthal s destroys RFKJr's outrageous Israelí Propaganda

Totalitarianism, Censorship and Syria with Peter Lavelle, Vanessa Beeley & Kevork Almassian

Putin shows treaty on Ukraine’s neutrality, signed by Kiev but dumped under Western pressure

Assad's speech at the Arab League Summit - what it means for the future of the region

Assad returns to Arab League

HUGE China brokered deal, Iran & Saudi Arabia restore diplomatic ties

Nord Stream pipeline & sabotaging peace w/Jeffrey Sachs

The Tragedy of Ukraine

Historical Events that Led to the Start of the Ukraine Conflict

Your Wars Will Destroy the Planet - Roger Waters

Healthy Athletes suffer Heart Problems After Getting the Jab