DOHA/TRIPOLI – A group of Western powers and Middle Eastern states called for the first time on Wednesday for Moammer Gaddafi to step aside, but North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) countries squabbled publicly over stepping up air strikes to help topple him.
In a victory for Britain and France, which are leading the air campaign in Libya and pushed for an unequivocal call for regime change, the “contact group” of some 16 European and Middle Eastern nations, plus the United Nations, the Arab League and the African Union, said Gaddafi must go.
“Gaddafi and his regime has lost all legitimacy and he must leave power allowing the Libyan people to determine their future,” a final statement said. The wording was much tougher than at a previous conference two weeks ago and gave stronger backing to insurgents fighting to end Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.
Meanwhile, US fighter jets continued to attack the embattled Libyan leader’s air defences even after NATO took over command of Libya operations earlier this month, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. The disclosure followed Pentagon assurances that the US had halted regular strike sorties after Washington’s April 4 handover of full command of international operations to NATO.
