Hague: Libya war to intensify

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/189357.html

UK Foreign Secretary says the West's military intervention in Libya will be intensified while the United Nations envoy is calling for negotiations to halt the civil war in the country.

Joining the NATO leaders for the fourth meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Turkey, British Foreign Minister William Hague insisted that the military operations in Libya will continue “indefinitely” until the country's long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi releases its grip on power.

Fifteen NATO members have gathered in a bid to find a solution for the Libya crisis, and to seek the best way to supply aid to the Libyan revolutionary forces.

Hague said the UN secretary general's special envoy to Libya, Abdul Elah al-Khatib, would be authorized in order to introduce terms for the Libyan ruler to quit power and put an end to the civil war.

"He (special envoy) has taken a central role in this contact group meeting and we see him as the channel for negotiations and for political settlement, while the military pressure on the regime will continue to intensify," the UK official said.

Hague also pointed out that Britain will not make a financial commitment to aid the Libyan revolutionary forces, adding the country will continue its military contribution to the Libya war.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt announced the deployment of four more Tornado aircraft equipped with surveillance and reconnaissance facilities, and with the capability to launch airstrikes.

The UK has also deployed 12 Typhoon multi-role warplanes -- stationed at Gioia del Colle, Italy -- aid the NATO military operations over Libya.

NATO forces began the military operations over Libya in March to save the lives of the Libyan civilians from the pro-Gaddafi forces.

But Libyan sources claim the airstrikes launched by the Western military alliance have killed 1,108 civilians and wounded 4,537 others since the end of March.