NATO rejects French criticism of Libya mission
Source: Agencies |
April 13, 2011, Wednesday
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A NATO general sharply rejected French criticism yesterday of the operation in Libya, saying the North Atlantic military alliance is performing well and protecting civilians effectively.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe had said NATO should be doing more to take out strongman Moammar Gadhafi's heavy weaponry that is targeting civilians in Libya.
Juppe said NATO's actions were "not enough" and insisted the alliance should be firing on the weapons being used by Gadhafi's forces to target civilians in the rebel-held city of Misrata. He spoke on France-Info radio the day after Libyan rebels rejected a cease-fire proposal by African mediators because it did not insist that Gadhafi relinquish power. "NATO has to play its role in full. NATO wanted to take the military command of the operations."
But at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Dutch Brigadier General Mark van Uhm responded that the alliance was successfully enforcing an arms embargo against Libya, patrolling a no-fly zone and protecting civilians in the North African nation. "I think with the assets we have, we're doing a great job."
However, he repeatedly declined to comment on reports that some alliance members were limiting their planes to patrolling the no-fly zone and prohibiting them from dropping bombs, saying that was a matter for governments to comment on.
France and Britain, meanwhile, sent out conflicting signals about the need to provide succor to Misrata, which has been subjected to weeks of bombardment by Gadhafi forces. Juppe said the European Union had to do more to get humanitarian aid to Misrata, but British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters that aid was still getting through.
"Humanitarian assistance is getting through to Libya, including to Misrata. That, so far, has not needed military assistance to deliver it," Hague said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
He said those fighting to enforce UN resolutions against Libya had to "maintain and intensify" their efforts through NATO - something the United Kingdom had done already by deploying extra aircraft to police the no-fly zone.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe had said NATO should be doing more to take out strongman Moammar Gadhafi's heavy weaponry that is targeting civilians in Libya.
Juppe said NATO's actions were "not enough" and insisted the alliance should be firing on the weapons being used by Gadhafi's forces to target civilians in the rebel-held city of Misrata. He spoke on France-Info radio the day after Libyan rebels rejected a cease-fire proposal by African mediators because it did not insist that Gadhafi relinquish power. "NATO has to play its role in full. NATO wanted to take the military command of the operations."
But at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Dutch Brigadier General Mark van Uhm responded that the alliance was successfully enforcing an arms embargo against Libya, patrolling a no-fly zone and protecting civilians in the North African nation. "I think with the assets we have, we're doing a great job."
However, he repeatedly declined to comment on reports that some alliance members were limiting their planes to patrolling the no-fly zone and prohibiting them from dropping bombs, saying that was a matter for governments to comment on.
France and Britain, meanwhile, sent out conflicting signals about the need to provide succor to Misrata, which has been subjected to weeks of bombardment by Gadhafi forces. Juppe said the European Union had to do more to get humanitarian aid to Misrata, but British Foreign Secretary William Hague told reporters that aid was still getting through.
"Humanitarian assistance is getting through to Libya, including to Misrata. That, so far, has not needed military assistance to deliver it," Hague said before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
He said those fighting to enforce UN resolutions against Libya had to "maintain and intensify" their efforts through NATO - something the United Kingdom had done already by deploying extra aircraft to police the no-fly zone.
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