AUSTRALIA_ Rudd urges international unity on Libya

Rudd urges international unity on Libya
Adam Gartrell, AAP Diplomatic Correspondent
May 6, 2011 - 1:49PM

AAP

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has urged world leaders to stay the course in Libya "until the job is done", rejecting calls for a timeline on the NATO-led intervention.

Mr Rudd made the call at a key meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Rome on Thursday.

Mr Rudd won a spot as a full participant on the panel set up to guide the conflict even though Australia is not contributing to the fighting against the Gaddafi regime.

Mr Rudd said it was imperative the international community remained united in its efforts.

"I think if we emerge from this with one clarion call it must be that," he said.

"Because if we appear to be disunited on anything it will be ruthlessly exploited by Gaddafi and his regime in the internal politics of that country."

Mr Rudd urged the coalition to maintain military pressure on Gaddafi's regime.

"That regime is in grave difficulty at present and we, I think, have a great tendency in the international community to overstate our problems rather than to see clearly his problems.

"Therefore, in that context, I would say that any discussion publicly about arbitrary timelines concerning our military effort and other efforts in Libya are counterproductive and would simply represent a win for Gaddafi himself.

"Our resolve here must be to stay the course until the job is done."

Mr Rudd said Australia supported calls for political transition plans - which would see Gaddafi removed from power - to be coordinated through the United Nations.

"Remember we are there in Libya under a UN resolution," he said.

Mr Rudd was an early and vocal advocate of international military intervention against the Gaddafi regime when it first moved to crush an anti-government rebellion in February.

Critics claim Mr Rudd has paid too much attention to distant issues like the Libyan conflict at the expense of Australia's interests in its Pacific backyard.

Australia is the third largestcontributor of relief funds - after the US and EU - for Libyan civilians.

AAP