The military campaign against Libya suffered its biggest fracture to date on Wednesday when Italy's foreign minister surprised European and Nato colleagues by calling for an "immediate suspension" of hostilities.
Mr Frattini outlined his concerns in an address to parliament Photo: AP
By Richard Spencer, James Kirkup, Damien McElroy and Ruth Sherlock in Misurata
7:34PM BST 22 Jun 2011
The Telegraph
Franco Frattini expressed concern over recent civilian casualties and called for an "aid corridor" to be established, including on the conflict's front lines in cities such as Misurata.
"The humanitarian end of military operations is essential to allow for immediate aid," he said.
His comments were immediately rejected by both Nato, Britain and France. But they will add to concerns expressed by politicians from Nato countries and even senior British military figures over the progress of the war and how long forces will be tied up in fighting Col Gaddafi.
On the ground there are also increasing fears that the war has reached stalemate, with the rebels unable to advance beyond entrenched positions past Gaddafi strongholds on the roads to Tripoli.
Italy has played a secondary role in the Nato bombing campaign against Libya compared to Britain and France, but its airbases are the main launch-pad.
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Earlier this week, Nato admitted for the first time to having caused civilian casualties, when an air strike accidentally hit a residential area of Tripoli killing nine people, including a young child.
Mr Frattini outlined his concerns both in an address to parliament and to fellow European foreign ministers. "We cannot run the risk of killing civilians," he said. "This is not good at all."
Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, whose support was crucial to winning United Nations approval for the campaign, also on Tuesday expressed "misgivings".
"You can't have a decisive ending," he said. "Now is the time to do whatever we can to reach a political solution."
Downing Street pointed to an EU statement agreed by all members including Italy this week that said: "The EU is unwavering in its commitment to protecting Libyan civilians, including through the intensification of pressure on the Libyan regime."
"We have got a strong and broad coalition that is fully committed to carrying out the mission," a spokesman said. "We are increasing pressure on the Libyan regime and we believe that that pressure has proved effective."
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the head of Nato also pledged no let-up.
"Nato will continue this mission because if we stop, countless more civilians could lose their lives," he said.
But more cracks in the alliance could spill into the open at a meeting of the European Council starting today (thur) in Brussels. Growing numbers of countries complain that military contributions to Nato are overshadowing non-military support to the rebels and preparations for a post-Gaddafi government.
János Martonyi, the Hungarian foreign minister and current chairman of the EU council of ministers, told the Daily Telegraph: "I would be more than happy if these military strikes would stop.
"I hope that it will be ended. The real issue is how we can finally see the regime removed."
China meanwhile signalled a shift in its stand on the conflict, describing the rebels as a "dialogue partner". China is the only veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council yet to call for Gaddafi to step down.
The rebels' ground war and Nato's air operations against the regime have already continued longer than expected.
The rebels have repeatedly failed to take the oil town of Brega in the east, while their advance beyond the liberated city of Misurata further west has come to a standstill as Gaddafi forces stage a counter-attack.
Doctors have told the Daily Telegraph that they have seen an increase in bullet wounds in recent days as loyalist troops get closer to the rebels' defensive positions.
"Yesterday the Gaddafi men were just 200 metres from our defences. We are struggling. Every day we lose many people," one fighter said.
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