Friday, May 27, 2011

Obama: US, France resolved to 'finish job' in Libya

The US and France are joined in their determination to "finish the job" in Libya, Barack Obama has said at the G8 summit in France.
The US president said that meeting the UN resolution could not be achieved while Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was still in power.
Mr Obama was speaking following talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Meanwhile, G8 leaders are expected to announce a $20bn (£12bn) package to support new Arab democracies.
The leaders of Egypt and Tunisia are due to meet President Obama and other G8 and European Union leaders who are discussing how to aid their new governments, after recent uprisings.

However, it is unclear what the money would go for, or whether the figure includes money already promised for the region.
'Acts of aggression' In a joint news conference, Mr Obama said both countries agreed that progress had been made in the campaign in Libya.
But, he added, "meeting the UN mandate of civilian protection cannot be accomplished when Gaddafi remains in Libya, directing his forces in acts of aggression against the Libyan people".
"We are joined in resolve to finish the job."
However, he did not provide further details about how they would successfully bring the campaign to a close.
Nato has been enforcing a UN resolution to protect Libyan civilians since March, following the uprising against Col Gaddafi's rule.
Britain agreed during the G8 summit to give clearance for the use of its attack helicopters in Libya, in an effort to boost the military effort.
France, which is also deploying helicopters, has urged the US to commit more resources.
Mr Obama's comments echo remarks he made in London with British Prime Minister David Cameron earlier this week, when he declared that there would be "no let up" in pressure against Col Gaddafi.
In that news conference, he expressed some caution, warning against setting any timetable for action and against the prospect of any decisive change in the military situation on the ground.
BBC

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