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NATO's Attacks In Libya Are Weak, France And Great Britain Say

Paresh Dave |
April 12, 2011 | 8:54 a.m. PDT

Deputy Editor

(Creative Commons)
(Creative Commons)

The foreign secretaries of France and Great Britain issued Tuesday an unfavorable critique of NATO's first 10 days at the helm of allied airstrikes in Libya.

France's Alain Juppe went as far as saying NATO "isn't doing enough."

Rebels have complained about the consistency and accuracy of airstrikes since NATO assumed control of no-fly zone enforcement from the United States. Last week, several rebels were killed in two friendly-fire incidents. The airstrikes, France and Great Britain said, have not gone after the heavy artillery targets that most devastate the rebels.

NATO wasn't buying the criticism.

“NATO is conducting its military operations in Libya with vigor within the current mandate. The pace of the operations is determined by the need to protect the population,” the international alliance said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

"We're doing a great job," said Dutch Brig. Gen. Mark Van Uhm.

Rebels have gone weeks without making significant advancements into territory claimed by Col. Muammar Gaddafi and the army defending him.

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev expressed frustration with the fact that no one really has control in Libya--a problem caused by Gaddafi's unwillingness to properly handle the unrest.

"Gaddafi is not controlling this situation as the country has been enveloped by civil war and he did lots of things that can be regarded as crimes," he continued. "NATO is not controlling the situation because for obvious reasons, they have no mandate to conduct any large-scale operations...The rebels are not controlling this situation as they do not have the strength, funds or opportunity."

Libya's former foreign minister Moussa Koussa traveled from Britain to Qatar on Tuesday and is expected to meet with other allied countries to find a way to exercise some control over Gaddafi. British Foreign Secretary William Hague will chair the conference.



 

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