News_Australia backs NATO's Libya approach

Australia backs NATO's Libya approach

March 30, 2011 - 4:59AM

AAP

The formation of a NATO-led international contact group to provide leadership and political guidance in Libya has received in principle support from Australia.

Foreign ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr Al Thani, attended a summit in London on Tuesday to look at a way forward for Libya and an end to Muammar Gaddafi's violent regime.

Called four days ago, the summit comes after the formation earlier this month of the United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1973 which introduced a no-fly zone over Libya and reconfirmed an opposition to escalating violence.

Advertisement: Story continues below Australia was invited as an observer to Tuesday's summit and was represented by High Commissioner to the United Kingdom John Dauth.

"I'm pretty confident that they will be pleased with the outcome of the conference today," Mr Dauth said of the Australian government, adding that while he is not authorised to speak on its behalf, he will report back to Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on the meeting's result.

However while it was praised by Mr Dauth, the leaders summit "struggled to devise an endgame" for the Libyan violence, Associated Press reported.

Gaddafi forces have killed at least 142 people and wounded more than 1,400 others since March 18 in an offensive on Misrata, a doctor at a hospital in the rebel-held city said earlier on Tuesday.

Mr Dauth said Australia "will go on taking an active interest in activities" in Libya and that the invitation to Tuesday's summit is evidence of international recognition for Australia's support.

"I think the invitation came as a recognition of the very active role that Mr Rudd had played ... in the lead-up to the signing of the Security Council Resolution 1973," Mr Dauth told AAP.

He said Tuesday's discussions had shown "very high levels of unanimity" and included "some further military assets agreed from other countries and strong levels of humanitarian support".

The first meeting of the contact group is due to be held in Qatar with participating countries taking rotating chairmanship.