Twelve helicopters were shipped out to Libya on French battleship Tonnerre on May 17, daily Le Figaro reported, to help break a military stalemate three months into an uprising against Mr. Qaddafi’s four-decade rule.
“Using helicopters from the Tonnerre is a way of getting closer to the ground,” the newspaper said, citing a source close to the matter.
An Armed Forces spokesman declined to confirm the report, but said the ship in question could carry helicopters, according to Reuters.
The air strikes, now led by NATO, were launched as Mr. Qaddafi’s troops advanced on Benghazi after the Libyan leader vowed “no mercy, no pity.” Libya’s population is estimated at six million people.
Many NATO members refuse to go beyond enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone to attack Colonel Qaddafi's forces, despite the urging of France, Britain and the United States, which all want to see Gaddafi removed from power.
The NATO campaign has crippled Tripoli’s ability to attack rebels, but rebel advances have also stalled.
According to Le Figaro’s source, French special forces, who have been operating in Libya to help identify targets for NATO planes since the start of air strikes, could now be reinforced and deployed to guide helicopter attacks.
Analysts say NATO may have no choice but to escalate its Libyan war effort and use helicopters or naval gunfire to end bloodshed particularly in the besieged city of Misrata and break the military deadlock.
Foreign ministers from the European Union will meanwhile look at ways forward in Libya as divisions emerge over an exit strategy.
Turning to Libya, the ministers will seek how to inch forward, getting protesters and the 68-year-old colonel to agree to a ceasefire that would include a retreat by regime forces in order to launch a political dialogue.
“Member states currently are less united in the belief that Qaddafi must go before a ceasefire or political talks can begin,” said a diplomat, according to Agence-France Presse. “But the revolt leadership will not budge on this point.”
NATO aircraft have been pounding regime forces for two months, and the alliance has vowed to keep up the pressure until Mr. Qaddafi stops attacking civilians and sends his troops back to their barracks.
Foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton of the EU on Sunday opened a mission office in the revolt capital of Benghazi, as opposition leaders stepped up their diplomatic efforts.
“We are here for the long term,” Ms. Ashton told a news conference at the Tibesti hotel where the European Union mission was opened and where she met Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the opposition National Transitional Council, AFP reported.
The opening of an EU office to represent the 27-member bloc coupled with the vow of long-term support came as a boost for the protesters lobbying world powers to formally recognize the NTC.
Mr. Jalil on Monday begins a two-day visit to NATO member country Turkey, during which he is to meet President Abdullah Gul and other top officials, Turkey’s foreign ministry said.
The talks will focus on “ways of improving coordination and cooperation in initiatives of humanitarian assistance that our country has undertaken for the Libyan people,” said a ministry statement.
Ms. Ashton called on Mr. Qaddafi, who has been at the helm of the north African nation for 41 years, to step down.
“The people of Libya have spoken about the future they want. I am here on behalf of all the 27 countries of the European Union to offer our support to that future,” she said.
The European parliament has long argued for recognition of the NTC, which so far has been recognized by France, Italy, Qatar and Gambia, but Ms. Ashton stressed it was up to the Libyan people to decide who represents them in future.
She said the EU recognizes the council as an interlocutor. “They are people with whom we have a strong dialogue.”
The regime in Tripoli said Ms. Ashton’s visit came as a “surprise” and that opening an EU office in opposition-held territory could be considered tantamount to the “recognition of an illegitimate entity.”
“This will have repercussions on Libya’s rapport with several EU countries and institutions,” Libya’s foreign ministry said.
(Abeer Tayel, an editor at Al Arabiya,
No comments:
Post a Comment