Terrorism ‘flickers’ trouble London conference
Uncertainty about the future of Libya at an international conference in London was underlined by a warning about rebel links to al-Qaida.
Admiral James Stavridis, Nato’s supreme commander for Europe and the US’ European commander, said intelligence had revealed “flickers” of al-Qaida or Hizbullah in an evidence session to the US Senate.
His remarks came as a major summit of coalition partners fighting Muammar Gaddafi meant in central London to discuss Libya’s future.
The Foreign Office trumpeted the publication of a set of aims by the interim transitional national council, which is being urged by Britain and others to begin preparing for a post-Gaddafi Libya.
Foreign secretary William Hague responded by acknowledging that question-marks continued to exist about the future in Libya.
“We must never be complacent about the way events like this could turn out,” he admitted in a press conference at the end of the summit.
“There is a danger that if things go wrong in the region on a sustained basis there could be new opportunities for terrorism or extremism.
“But I am sure what we are doing to protect civilians, to encourage a political process in Libya through which Libyans can choose their own future government, is the right way to combat those dangers of terrorism and extremism.”
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was more guarded in her remarks to journalists, simply stating: “We do not have any specific information about specific individuals from any organisation who are part of this.”
Adm Stavridis told US senators that the “content”, “composition” and “personalities” of senior figures emerging from Benghazi’s nascent regime were being examined carefully, however.
Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr Al Thani, whose presence helped cover up the absence of the Arab League’s secretary-general Amr Moussa, said actions were more important than words, however.
“We should look at how they behave,” he urged. “If they can do something better, if we are looking for democracy, let democracy decide who’s come to take power.”
But politicians’ rhetoric was dampened further by events on the ground in the north African country today.
Earlier this morning two Tornado GR4 aircraft flying armed reconnaissance patrols over Libya engaged one armoured fighting vehicle and two artillery pieces, the Ministry of Defence said.
But rebel forces were forced back to Bin Jawad and the isolated rebel-held city of Misrata continued to come under sustained attack from loyalist forces.
Today’s conference in London saw the establishment of a Libya contact group and the “widening and deepening” of the coalition against Colonel Gaddafi, Mr Hague claimed.
“This conference has shown we are united in our aims, united in seeking a Libya that does not pose a threat to its own citizens, or to the region, or more widely,” Mr Hague added.
Global diplomacy focuses on London
Over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from regional organisations attended the conference held at Lancaster House this afternoon.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, African Union chairman Jean Ping, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Nato secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen were among the luminaries attending.
David Cameron opened the conference by declaring that Col Gaddafi was “in flagrant breach” of UN resolutions.
“Our military actions can protect the people from attack; and our humanitarian actions can help the people recover. But neither are sufficient to provide the path to greater freedom,” he said.
“Ultimately, the solution must be a political one – and it must be for the Libyan people themselves to determine their own destiny.”
Mr Ban’s comments focused on concern about the ongoing lack of protection for civilians, in the context of what he said was a disorganised country which had been neglected by Col Gaddafi.
“It has just been one-man rule, so we need to be very strategic to help them have a smooth transition to the rule of law and democracy,” he told conference delegates.
Around 380,000 people have left Libya since the start of the unrest, Mr Ban said, before warning that some 13,000 people remain stranded at the borders with Egypt and Tunisia.
“In view of the current military operations, humanitarian aid should be delivered by humanitarian organisations in order to ensure that aid delivery is carried out according to humanitarian principles,” he added.
“We need to have very close coordination and I’m going to lead this coordination if you agree.”
Yesterday Britain and France issued a joint statement calling on Libyan rebels to begin preparing for a new government after Muammar Gaddafi.
They called on the conference to give its support to the interim Libyan transitional national council and begin preparing ways to help them “make a new beginning”.
Representatives of the Arab League, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Iraq, as well as the prime minister of Qatar, were among those calling for a political process “which helps create the conditions in which the people of Libya can choose their own future”.
That post-Gaddafi future is far from assured, however, after initial claims yesterday that rebel forces had taken the Libyan leader’s hometown of Sirte proved premature.
Reports emerging from Libya suggested pro-Gaddafi loyalist forces had bombarded the road to Sirte, sending the undisciplined rebel forces back to Bin Jawad.
“I’ve seen no evidence yet of the opposition side in Libya attacking the civilian population,” foreign secretary William Hague said this lunchtime.
“From what we can tell in the towns that they have now taken over again, they have been welcomed by the civilian population.
“Equally, I think it’s very important to make clear… there is no confirmed evidence of any civilian casualties as a result of coalition air strikes and missile strikes.
“Of course there’s always a risk of that, but we do everything we can to minimise the risk of that.”
Franco-British leadership of the international community’s efforts in Libya is backed by a muted Barack Obama, who only made his first speech about the situation in the Middle East yesterday.
“Because of this transition to a broader, Nato-based coalition, the risk and cost of this operation – to our military, and to American taxpayers – will be reduced significantly,” the US president and Nobel peace prize winner said.
“We must always measure our interests against the need for action. But that cannot be an argument for never acting on behalf of what’s right.”
Ms Clinton praised Britain’s leadership in putting the coalition together and said the conference was meeting at a “turning point” in Libya’s affairs.
“All of us have to continue the pressure on and deepen the isolation on the Gaddafi regime,” she told the conference.
“We cannot and must not attempt to impose our will on the people of Libya but we can and we must stand with them as they determine their own destiny.”
