Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato Secretary General, and David Cameron, Prime Minister, agreed on Wednesday on the need to “ramp up” pressure on Col Muammar Gaddafi during a meeting in London.
David Cameron with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at 10 Downing Street Photo: AP
12:54AM BST 16 Jun 2011
The Telegraph
The pair are “committed to maintaining the operation until the Libyan people are free to determine their own future,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
Mr Rasmussen echoed those comments despite senior Nato commander General Stephane Abrial on Tuesday raising questions about the alliance's ability to handle a long-term intervention.
"Allies and partners are committed to provide the necessary resources and assets to continue this operation and see it through to a successful conclusion," Mr Rasmussen said.
Saad Djebbar, a former legal adviser to the Libyan government, told Reuters Col Gaddafi would continue to play for time and seek to demoralise and split the coalition.
"Gaddafi's mentality is that as long as my enemies haven't triumphed, I haven't lost," he said.
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"The U.S. stance, that the major outside role should be played by the Europeans and Arabs, sends the wrong signal. Gaddafi will be very encouraged by it. His line is 'We are steadfast. We can wait it out.'"
Mr Rasmussen later said Nato was needed more than ever, but that European countries needed to “step up to the plate” and spend more on defence. Failure to do so could lead to a “two-tiered alliance” where US and European troops would not be able to fight effectively together.
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