VOA News
April 12, 2011
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe (file photo)
France and Britain have called on NATO partners to do more to protect Libyan civilians. This, as battles continue to rage between government and rebel forces after the collapse of a cease-fire plan.
NATO has been enforcing a UN-authorized "no fly" zone and conducting airstrikes in Libya. But French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told French radio Tuesday the alliance must do more to destroy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's heavy weaponry.
Juppe said he would raise his concerns during a meeting of European Union foreign ministers Tuesday and with NATO ministers later in the week.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged alliance countries to increase the number of aircraft involved in the operation, as Britain has done.
The "no-fly" zone is aimed at protecting civilians under attack by Gadhafi's forces.
The rights group Amnesty International has accused forces loyal to Gadhafi of executing prisoners. It says researchers in eastern Libya have seen bodies of opposition fighters who were shot in the back of the head after their hands and feet were bound.
On Monday, Libya's rebel interim government rejected a cease-fire plan proposed by the African Union, calling the option "outdated" because it does not meet their basic demand that Gadhafi and his sons leave power - and the country - immediately.
African Union officials said that in addition to an immediate cease-fire, the proposal calls for talks between rebels and the government, protection of foreign nationals in Libya and humanitarian assistance to civilians. They said the plan had been accepted by Gadhafi.
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Comments (21)
ERIK THE VIKING (ENGLAND)
France is right for once, NATO should be trying harder to assist the rebels in any military way they can as peace is still a long way off. How anybody thought the African Union could help baffles me completely. This is the bunch of leaders who have presided over so many civil wars if it was not so serious it would be funny. It is like asking Sweeney Todd for a close shave !
Biswas (India)
Offences did by Gaddhafi is not reasonable to be forgiven and should be hanged till his death, or else the history will be repeated again in near future again. Sufferers are always the local citizens.
Eric (Australia)
If the rebels do push an towns loyal to Gadaffi will we see Nato stopping them from killing civilians in those towns ? I think not. Who are these rebels ? Militant Islamists ? probably ! The fact that they dont have the numbers to take the country means they can not be in the majority. It is a civil war lets just but out and let them sort it out in whatever way that happens within their culture.
Dhanvin R.Barot (India)
Do we want peace or war.Are we ready to take the responsibility of the innocent lives?Does god permit us.Attrocities are there no doubt but there is a solution.War with war is always disastrous. NATO is on the right path.In revenge against Gadaffi which is seen by almighy we dig our own karmic graves and we too join the Gadaffi bands as by our orders innocent lives also are killed. Jai Prabhu
nick (usa)
How France cares so much about Muslims when they banned Burqa it is very clear they want some oil cause they really don't care about Muslims .
hamad part 1of 2 (Oman)
So if France is not satisfied about NATO intervention . It should show how NATO should cope with autocrats and dictators . France has provided a good role mode in Ivory Coast for NATO and whole foreign countries . Actually , Gaddafi force depends on its heavy weapon to survive on the ground .
hamad part 2of 2+extra (Oman)
I do not think Gaddafi could sustain for long time , if his heavy weapons would be destroyed by NATO of France specially , that Gaddafi intended to show how few Libyans support him when his media broadcast his visit to one of his schools . After Gbagbo lost his throne , Saif should rethink about his repercussion because time is about to run out .
hamad extra (Oman)
Ceasefire won t wash after providing an extraordinary number of rebels victims . Leaders have been excited to serve their nation , not to enslave and suppress them . The game is over and Libyans can not return to square one .
Gadhafi started this war in the first place killing his own people because the demonstrations were sweeping him away like his colleagues in Tunisia and Egypt. I wonder how some people can support this man. Did the so called rebels have guns in the beginning of the revolution? Or they got guns to defend themselves after Gadhafi started killing them?
martino (uk)
Who gave France the right to decide who is the legitimate govt in Libya or Ivory Coast. The arrogance of Sarkozy is breathtaking. Now he wants to attack the Libyan army in order to help the rebels win. Is that how to interprete a mandate for protecting civilians. Before anybody starts to applaud France's commitment to democracy they need to read up on Gabon, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Togo etc, where France has been propping up some of the worst dictators in Africa.
Eric (Canada)
French show mercy to Muslims is ironic. If they could, they would wipe them out of France.
CLVEN
why don't we leave the problems to the LIbyan themselves?
Rob (usa)
@ nick. Of course it's about oil. Lybia is France's 'Iraq'. Their propaganda to their citizens and to the world is that they care about "freedom" and human rights. How many troops has France and NATO sent to the Ivory Coast?
Fernando (Usa)
The actions of the Sarkozy and Cameron are disgusting. Clearly the majority of the people support Gaddafi and want him their. His government hasn't crumbled. His people haven't tried to assasinate him. NATO please, hands off!!! Too many people are dying as a result of your greed and betrayal.
12-04-2011 Linc (India)
The divide between eastern and western Libya is quite baffling. One part hates Gaddafi's guts, the other is either neutral or pro-Gaddafi. Quite a different situation from the other revolution-hit Arab countries. Anyway France's track record in African countries isnt the best to say the least. Although they seem to have pledged 400 million euros to Ivory Coast.
12-04-2011 saihou njie (The Gambia)
France have to put there shoes in gamdifi position n see what they are doing is right or not n all the NATO
12-04-2011 Capetonian (South Africa)
When Gadhafi falls, it will cause a tsunami that will sweep away many leaders (espcially in Africa and most especially in South Africa. His funding of corrupt "liberation" movements runs not into milliosn but billions. Soon the files will be opened and we will know how many politicians were effectively in his pay. Die Sonne bringt es an dem Tag.
12-04-2011 Sarjeet Gill (Australia)
The people of Syria are also battling a bullying dictatorship which is treating the citizens like their personal possessions. It is about time that free countries started applying pressure on the Syrian Dictatorship too.
12-04-2011 More violence is never the answer, it only creates more complications. Violence begets more viilence. Wake up people!
12-04-2011 Rachel (USA)
Demon-ocracy strikes! Kadafi's democracy - education, health care, oil subsidies? Flags in Iran uprising were green like Libya flag? The enemy has infilltrated to oust the only freedom fighter in Africa before real democracy spreads and compromises the new Ottoman empire! Throw out the slave masters.
12-04-2011 Martin (UK)
I apologise for degrading American's here but a few things need to be said. 1) It is called LIBYA not Lybia, 2) The 'No Fly Zone' is not about Oil. Sarkozy is more interested in opinion polls which Libyan involvement sought to improve. 3) Betrayal? Really?
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