NATO takes over, warns against civilian attacks
Source: Agencies |
April 1, 2011, Friday
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The new commander of international military operations in Libya warned yesterday that anyone attacking civilians would be "ill-advised" to continue, and said he would look into a report by a Vatican envoy that air strikes had killed 40 innocent people.
As NATO took over command of all air operations over Libya, Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard said the bloc had already deployed more than 100 fighters and support aircraft to monitor the no-fly zone over Libya and prevent attacks on civilians.
The alliance also had a dozen frigates patrolling the Mediterranean Sea off Libya to prevent weapons shipments from reaching the warring sides.
Addressing those attacking civilians, Bouchard said: "You would be ill-advised to continue such activities. I recommend that you cease such activities."
He also said NATO would investigate a claim by the Vatican's envoy in Libya that air strikes in Tripoli during the night had killed 40 civilians - though he noted that the alleged incident was said to have taken place before NATO took command.
"I am aware of this news report. I take every one of those issues seriously, but our mission began ... today," Bouchard said.
The report by the Fides news agency quoted Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Tripoli, as saying he had heard that a building in the district of Buslim had collapsed during bombing, killing 40 people inside.
Bouchard said the alliance had very strict rules of engagement, and was very careful in going after any targets.
The hand-over from the United States, which had been leading the impromptu group of countries bombing forces loyal to Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, "has been seamless with no gaps in the effort," the commander told journalists from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
NATO aircraft had already flown more than 90 sorties since the alliance took over command, Bouchard said.
NATO's assumption of command comes at a sensitive moment in the war between the rebels and loyalist forces. Gadhafi's ground troops have nearly reversed the gains rebels made since the international air strikes began.
The latest fighting centered on Brega, a town important to Libya's oil industry on the coastal road that leads to Tripoli. Citizens also have fled Ajdabiya, a rebel-held city about 80 kilometers east of Brega, for fear that government forces are on their way.
Speaking in Stockholm, NATO's Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday that the alliance doesn't support US and British suggestions that the United Nations mandate for the international military operation in Libya allows arming rebels.
Britain and the US believe that existing UN Security Council resolutions on Libya could allow for foreign governments to arm the rebels, despite an arms embargo being in place.
As NATO took over command of all air operations over Libya, Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard said the bloc had already deployed more than 100 fighters and support aircraft to monitor the no-fly zone over Libya and prevent attacks on civilians.
The alliance also had a dozen frigates patrolling the Mediterranean Sea off Libya to prevent weapons shipments from reaching the warring sides.
Addressing those attacking civilians, Bouchard said: "You would be ill-advised to continue such activities. I recommend that you cease such activities."
He also said NATO would investigate a claim by the Vatican's envoy in Libya that air strikes in Tripoli during the night had killed 40 civilians - though he noted that the alleged incident was said to have taken place before NATO took command.
"I am aware of this news report. I take every one of those issues seriously, but our mission began ... today," Bouchard said.
The report by the Fides news agency quoted Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Tripoli, as saying he had heard that a building in the district of Buslim had collapsed during bombing, killing 40 people inside.
Bouchard said the alliance had very strict rules of engagement, and was very careful in going after any targets.
The hand-over from the United States, which had been leading the impromptu group of countries bombing forces loyal to Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, "has been seamless with no gaps in the effort," the commander told journalists from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
NATO aircraft had already flown more than 90 sorties since the alliance took over command, Bouchard said.
NATO's assumption of command comes at a sensitive moment in the war between the rebels and loyalist forces. Gadhafi's ground troops have nearly reversed the gains rebels made since the international air strikes began.
The latest fighting centered on Brega, a town important to Libya's oil industry on the coastal road that leads to Tripoli. Citizens also have fled Ajdabiya, a rebel-held city about 80 kilometers east of Brega, for fear that government forces are on their way.
Speaking in Stockholm, NATO's Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said yesterday that the alliance doesn't support US and British suggestions that the United Nations mandate for the international military operation in Libya allows arming rebels.
Britain and the US believe that existing UN Security Council resolutions on Libya could allow for foreign governments to arm the rebels, despite an arms embargo being in place.
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