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Libya Deaths Trigger Rift Over NATO Campaign

DOHA, Jun 22 2011 - Civilian deaths have raised serious misgivings about the U.N.-authorised NATO intervention in Libya among the most ardent supporters of the ongoing air campaign.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and the outgoing head of the Arab League have each called for a halt to hostilities in the war-torn North African country.

Frattini told members of parliament Wednesday that the suspension of military operations in Libya was “essential” for immediate humanitarian aid, while Amr Moussa, the Arab League chief, called for a political solution to the crisis.

But France expressed a different view, saying the military operations against Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, should be “intensified”.

“Any pause in operations would risk allowing him to play for time and to reorganise. In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf,” Bernard Valero, a French foreign ministry spokesman, said.

‘Strikes to Continue’

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO chief, said on Wednesday that the alliance would continue its operations in Libya. “NATO will continue this mission because if we stop, countless more civilians could lose their lives,” Rasmussen said in a video statement on the NATO website.

Rasmussen also addressed charges that NATO caused civilian deaths in recent air raids. “Since the start of this mission we have conducted over 5,000 strikes sorties, and as our record shows we have taken utmost care to minimise the risk of civilian casualties and we continue to do that every day and every hour,” he said. “I deeply regret any loss of life in this conflict.”

NATO on Sunday acknowledged responsibility for an air strike in Tripoli that killed several civilians. The 28-nation alliance also acknowledged striking a military target a day later in the Sorman area west of the capital. The Libyan government said the attack had killed 19 people.

Moussa’s ‘Missgivings’

In an interview with Britain’s ‘Guardian’ newspaper published Tuesday, Moussa said the time was ripe for a political solution to the Libyan crisis.

Moussa, who played a central role in securing Arab support for NATO air strikes, also voiced reservations about his support for the NATO bombing campaign after seeing civilian casualties.

“When I see children being killed, I must have misgivings. That’s why I warned about the risk of civilian casualties,” Moussa told the ‘Guardian’.

Moussa said the military campaign would not produce a breakthrough. “You can’t have a decisive ending. Now is the time to do whatever we can to reach a political solution,” he said.

“That has to start with a genuine ceasefire under international supervision. Until the ceasefire, Gaddafi would remain in office… Then there would be a move to a transitional period… to reach an understanding about the future of Libya.”

Asked whether that meant a halt to the NATO air raids, he said: “A ceasefire is a ceasefire.”

Italy Breaks Ranks

Moussa’s sentiment was shared by the Italian foreign minister, who called for urgent humanitarian aid for trapped residents in cities like Tripoli and Misurata.

He said the people in those areas face a “dramatic” humanitarian situation and added that a suspension of hostilities would also avoid “consolidating a division of Libya” between east and west.

He said he hoped the European Council in Brussels Thursday would highlight an end to the fighting in Libya as “a practical solution”.

Frattini had warned earlier this week that NATO’s accidental killing of civilians in an air strike was endangering the alliance’s credibility in the eyes of the world.

“With regard to NATO, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on the dramatic errors involving civilians,” he said. “This is clearly not part of NATO’s mission.”

Libya is a former Italian colony and Silvio Berlusconi’s government had enjoyed close ties with the government of Gaddafi.

Italy was initially cautious in its reaction to the crackdown by the Libyan leader but has since played a key role in the NATO-led military operation by offering the use of its air bases to conduct air raids.

NATO launched its air campaign in Libya to protect civilians from a brutal crackdown launched by Gaddafi’s regime in response to an uprising against his four-decades long rule.

*Published under an agreement with Al-Jazeera.