NATO won't scale down war in Libya
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2011, Wednesday
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THE commander of NATO's Libya operation said yesterday any scaling down of daily airstrikes was "not appropriate," despite international calls for a negotiated end to the fighting.
Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard said the bombing campaign - in its 90th day yesterday - had achieved significant results. He said the situation in the opposition-held eastern part of Libya had normalized, and that attacks on civilians in the coastal town of Misrata and rebel-held enclaves in the west had been much reduced.
"Our aim is to stay the course until we have brought about ... a cessation of all violence against the population," Bouchard said in a televised news conference from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
Asked if NATO would consider easing up on the air strikes in order to allow negotiations to start, Bouchard said: "No, I do not believe that any scaling down of the operation is appropriate or required at this time."
NATO's campaign was intended to deliver a sharp, devastating blow against Moammar Gadhafi's forces and enable the opposition to quickly oust his government. But with the campaign dragging on inconclusively, there have been increasing international calls for a negotiated end to the conflict.
The operation was originally authorized for a 90-day period, which expired yesterday, but the alliance's governing body has decided on a three-month extension.
NATO warplanes have flown close to 5,000 strike missions since the alliance assumed command of the air strikes on March 31. They have destroyed much of Gadhafi's armor, artillery, anti-aircraft defenses and pummeled military command centers throughout the country.
Still, the front lines have remained virtually unchanged. Gadhafi's forces hold most of the western half of Libya, while the rebels control the east, together with some western enclaves.
Canadian Lieutenant General Charles Bouchard said the bombing campaign - in its 90th day yesterday - had achieved significant results. He said the situation in the opposition-held eastern part of Libya had normalized, and that attacks on civilians in the coastal town of Misrata and rebel-held enclaves in the west had been much reduced.
"Our aim is to stay the course until we have brought about ... a cessation of all violence against the population," Bouchard said in a televised news conference from his headquarters in Naples, Italy.
Asked if NATO would consider easing up on the air strikes in order to allow negotiations to start, Bouchard said: "No, I do not believe that any scaling down of the operation is appropriate or required at this time."
NATO's campaign was intended to deliver a sharp, devastating blow against Moammar Gadhafi's forces and enable the opposition to quickly oust his government. But with the campaign dragging on inconclusively, there have been increasing international calls for a negotiated end to the conflict.
The operation was originally authorized for a 90-day period, which expired yesterday, but the alliance's governing body has decided on a three-month extension.
NATO warplanes have flown close to 5,000 strike missions since the alliance assumed command of the air strikes on March 31. They have destroyed much of Gadhafi's armor, artillery, anti-aircraft defenses and pummeled military command centers throughout the country.
Still, the front lines have remained virtually unchanged. Gadhafi's forces hold most of the western half of Libya, while the rebels control the east, together with some western enclaves.
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