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NATO chief urges UN to reach agreement on Libya

17 March 2011 21:10 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen Thursday urged the United Nations Security Council to reach an agreement on Libya as "time is running out", APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

"If Gaddafi prevails it will send a clear signal that violence pays. That would be unacceptable from a humanitarian and democratic perspective," Rasmussen said in remarks posted on his Facebook page.

"But time is running out. The sooner the United Nations can reach an agreement the better. NATO stands ready to protect the civilian population against attacks from the regime," he said.

The NATO chief has repeatedly said that NATO needs a " demonstrable need" for action, a "clear legal basis" and "firm regional support" to launch operation to tackle the Libya crisis.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces are reportedly getting an upper hand on the ground and have edged close to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, while the international community remain divided on whether to impose a no-fly zone in Libya.