China slams NATO action in Libya

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186502.html

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has warned against NATO's military action in Libya, calling for a peaceful political solution instead.

After talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London, Wen said China supported efforts towards a peaceful solution for Libya and the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi, the Associated Press reported.

“Foreign troops may be able to win war in a place, but they can hardly win peace. Hard lessons have been learnt from what has happened in the Middle East and Afghanistan," the Chinese premier said during a press conference in London.

Following talks with Cameron, Wen said that Beijing supported the UN Security Council resolution which authorized airstrikes against Libya to protect civilians.

However, he insisted that NATO should stay committed to the resolution's guidelines.

"We hope that the issue of Libya will be resolved through political, peaceful means, to reduce the humanitarian harm and in particular the harm of innocent civilians," he said.

Russia has also criticized NATO action in the war-torn country, while accusing Britain and other NATO members of over-stepping the resolution's boundaries.

NATO is conducting airstrikes in Libya to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973, and says that its air campaign aims at protecting civilians. However, Libyan officials say hundreds of civilians have been killed as a result of the attacks.