EU prepares Gaddafi quit ultimatum

EU leaders are today set to demand that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi gives up power in Libya with immediate effect – just as his regime regains ground from rebel forces trying to overthrow him.

A draft declaration for approval at an emergency summit in Brussels declares that “Colonel Gaddafi must relinquish power immediately” and says the objective is for Libya to “rapidly embark on an orderly transition to democracy”.

On the eve of the summit, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy sought to ratchet up pressure on Tripoli, writing to EU partners to urge them to unite in calling for Mr Gaddafi and his clique to leave now.

The two leaders said the EU and its allies must be ready for “all possible contingencies” in Libya, including the possible imposition of a no-fly zone to prevent air attacks on rebels and civilians.

Britain and France are drafting a United Nations Security Council resolution to authorise an intervention of this kind, though the UK has indicated that formal UN approval may not be needed so long as international actions have “appropriate legal basis”.

Foreign Secretary William Hague last night said that a no-fly zone could be imposed “very, very quickly”, adding that Nato planning on its implementation was “at a very advanced stage”.

But Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen struck a more cautious tone, saying that defence ministers had simply discussed the “initial options”.

He also again emphasised there would have to be a clear UN mandate – a point echoed by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates.

In a letter to European Council President Herman van Rompuy and the other 25 EU leaders, Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy said the Libyan regime had “lost any legitimacy it may have once had”.

Its “utterly unacceptable” use of military force against civilians may amount to a crime against humanity.

“We support continued planning to be ready to provide support for all possible contingencies as the situation evolves on the basis of demonstrable need, a clear legal basis and firm regional support,” they wrote.

“This could include a no-fly zone or other options against air attacks, working with Allies and partners, especially those in the region.”

The Ministry of Defence last night confirmed that two Nimrod R1 spy planes which were due to be retired at the end of the month may have their life extended for a short period. But a spokesman declined to discuss suggestions that this was intended to make them available for use over Libya.

Today’s summit comes amid signs that Mr Gaddafi may be turning the tide in his struggle against rebels who swiftly seized more than half the country last month.

Regime loyalists yesterday used tanks and artillery fire to drive opposition forces out of the strategic oil port of Ras Lanouf, as Mr Gaddafi’s son Saif took to the airwaves to declare that the assault on “terrorists and armed gangsters” would be stepped up.

“It’s time for liberation. It’s time for action. We are moving now,” said Saif Gaddafi. “We are so united, we are so strong. And Libya will be free and peaceful soon.”

The EU draft declaration sets the scene for co-operation with a new regime in post-Gaddafi Libya, stating that Europe “stands ready to engage with the new Libyan authorities in order to help Libya build a constitutional state and develop the rule of law”.

But some officials preparing the hastily-convened summit fear the stand may have to be adjusted amid the latest setbacks on the ground for opposition forces.

A French decision to give formal recognition to the rebel Transitional National Council has already been dismissed by some other member states as premature.

In their letter, Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy said the EU should make clear it regards the Council as “valid political interlocutors” and back their efforts to prepare for representative and accountable government.

Council leader Mustafa Abdel-Jalil used an interview on the BBC World Service to restate appeals for action to halt Mr Gaddafi’s aerial bombardment of Libyans, as well as a blockade of sea ports to stop the dictator bringing in arms and mercenary troops.

The summit, requested by France with UK backing, comes a day after EU sanctions freezing the European assets of senior regime members were stepped up to include Libya’s sovereign wealth fund, its central bank, and other key financial institutions.

Now EU leaders will discuss how best to apply more pressure on the regime, in particular isolating Mr Gaddafi and ensuring his supporters are held to account for their actions.

Reinforcing existing EU humanitarian aid efforts is also high on the summit agenda.

British officials summed up the priorities: “From our perspective, what we would hope to see today would be a clear statement that Gaddafi should go, backed up by sanctions; a clear statement that people who violated people’s human rights will be held accountable; a condemnation of people from that regime using force against civilians; a commitment to provide further humanitarian assistance as required to help the Libyan people; and agreement to open some contact with the Transitional National Council in Benghazi and see whether we can work more effectively with these people.”

A visit to the summit by Mahmoud Jabril, the Transitional National Council envoy, has not been ruled out.

The summit – the first international gathering for Ireland’s new leader Enda Kenny – comes immediately before a separate 17-nation eurozone summit, which the UK is not attending.

Last night Mr Kenny met European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, reminding him that one of his top priorities remained a better repayment deal for Dublin’s EU-International Monetary Fund economic bail-out.

The eurozone summit was expected to focus on agreeing a new “competitiveness pact” between the 17 single currency member states, to reinforce “economic convergence in the zone by action to boost employment, strengthen public finances, and reinforce financial stability”.