Europe

Home page

Europe

Sarkozy, Cameron Seek to Peel Qaddafi Loyalists From Regime

25 March 2011 22:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron urged followers of Muammar Qaddafi to abandon the Libyan leader, opening a diplomatic front as allied jets pounded his military, APA reports quoting â€œBloomberg Business Weekâ€.
â€œWe must hasten the decomposition of the system and the entourage of Qaddafi by telling them thereâ€™s a way to get out,â€ Sarkozy said in Brussels today after a European Union summit. â€œThose who abandon Qaddafi in his crazy and murderous ways can join in the reconstruction of a new, democratic Libya.â€
Sarkozy spoke as French and British aircraft struck Qaddafiâ€™s ground forces for a seventh day and NATO agreed to take command of the United Nations-mandated mission. While a week-old UN Security Council resolution aims to prevent attacks on civilians, Sarkozyâ€™s comments underscored the desire of many western leaders to see Qaddafiâ€™s regime collapse.
Cameron, whose government will host a March 29 meeting of foreign ministers in London to resolve differences among coalition partners, warned Qaddafiâ€™s followers that they could be charged with war crimes if they remain with the regime.
â€œThe message to those around him is every day you work for this dictator you are at risk of the international criminal court and at risk of being found guilty of war crimes,â€ Cameron told reporters in Brussels after the talks.
U.K. and French leaders are preparing a diplomatic proposal before the March 29 meeting, Sarkozy said, adding that he wants representatives from the Libyan opposition council to attend.
â€˜Internal Strikeâ€™
â€œThe allies are hoping thereâ€™ll be an internal strike against Qaddafi,â€ Mats Berdal, a professor in the Department of War Studies at Kingâ€™s College London, said in an interview. â€œEither with Qaddafi killed or some kind of deal that will see massive defections.â€
A French jet destroyed an artillery battery in the central town of Ajdabiya, French Admiral Edouard Guillaud said on France Info radio. British Tornado jets carried out missile strikes on armored vehicles threatening Ajdabiya, where rebels were routed earlier this month, the U.K. Defense Ministry said today. Al Arabiya television reported heavy fighting near the city.
â€œLibyaâ€™s air space is under control,â€ said Guillaud, the chief of Franceâ€™s defense staff.