Nato unites on Gaddafi exit

Nato nations stressed their common goals in Libya – bringing an end to Muammar Gaddafi’s regime – as ministers met in Berlin amid a rift over the scope of the alliance’s military operation.

The effort to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya tops the foreign ministers’ agenda at the two-day meeting, which also will address efforts to hand over security responsibility in Afghanistan to local forces.

Three weeks of air strikes have not routed Gaddafi’s forces, and France has said Nato is not doing enough.

British and French officials also said Washington’s military strength is needed to ensure the mission’s success, but the Obama administration insists the US will stick to its plan to remain in a supporting role.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, stressed that alliance members are “sharing the same goal, which is to see the end of the Gaddafi regime in Libya.

“We are contributing in many ways to see that goal realised,” she said after meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, whose country is not taking part in the military operation and abstained in the UN vote authorising it.

France’s foreign minister, Alain Juppe, struck a diplomatic tone as he met his German counterpart, seeking to downplay differences and stressing the importance of an eventual “political solution.”

“In reality, we have the same objective – this objective is to allow the Libyan people to enjoy democratic freedom,” Juppe said, adding “there will not be a military solution to the problem, there can only be a political solution”.

How that looks is for Libyans to determine but “there is no future in Libya with Gaddafi,” Juppe said.

Juppe said outsiders can support political forces that aspire to democracy, but he was guarded when asked whether France believes Libyan rebels should be supplied with arms.

“France is not in this frame of mind,” he replied.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Berlin agrees with France and others that “Libya can only have a good future if this dictator goes.”

He said he was “very happy that we have together succeeded in finally pushing through a comprehensive sanctions policy – there is now a de-facto oil and gas embargo (so) that the dictator Gaddafi’s cash reserves cannot be replenished.”

US officials said Clinton would use today’s meetings to press the allies to reaffirm their goal of protecting civilians as rebels and forces loyal to Gaddafi continue fighting.

The officials said Clinton would stress the importance of using Nato military assets to go after pro-Gaddafi fighters attacking or approaching rebel-held positions and stepping up economic and political pressure on him to leave power.

The foreign ministers of the US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy – a group known as the Quint – plan to meet on the sidelines in Berlin with a focus on Libya, US officials said.

The meeting is aimed at getting the European nations, especially Germany, to boost pressure on Gaddafi to leave, the US officials said.

A rebel in Misrata says Gaddafi’s troops have unleashed heavy shelling of the city’s port, killing nine and wounding 20 people in the hours-long barrage.

Abdel-Salam, who gave only his first name and said he was a resident-turned-fighter, says Gaddafi’s troops used tanks and Grad missiles, concentrating mainly on the port that has been its lifeline during the siege.

He says a cement factory in the area was destroyed and that residents fled to safer neighbourhoods.

Abdel-Salam said by telephone that “Nato did nothing to protect civilians” during today’s attack.