Chavez warns of tragedy in Libya

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195625.html

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned of a tragedy in Libya as a new era is set to begin due to the fall of the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

"The drama of Libya isn't ending with the fall of Gaddafi's government. It's beginning," AP quoted Chavez as saying on Wednesday.

He also condemned Western powers for the airstrikes NATO had conducted, adding that all “the Yankee empire and European powers” want is Libya's oil.

"They've destroyed a country and they continue destroying it. How many Libyan children have died?” Chavez said.

Furthermore, he denounced the USD 1.6 million bounty on Gaddafi offered by Libyan businessmen, calling it a “madness let loose.”

Libya has been the scene of intense fighting between government troops and revolutionary forces since a revolution seeking to topple Gaddafi began in mid-February.

NATO airstrikes have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians since March.

NATO began bombing "military targets" in Libya on March 19, after the UN Security Council approved a resolution on March 17, authorizing force by whatever means necessary, with the exception of a ground invasion, to "protect civilians."

Since March 31, when the US-led Western military alliance took over command of the airstrikes on a UN mandate, its warplanes have carried out around 11,644 sorties over the country.