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Africa North
ICG Urges Libya Ceasefire
2011-06-08
[Bangla Daily Star] Western governments and rebels say a combination of NATO air strikes, diplomatic isolation and grassroots opposition will eventually end Qadaffy's rule.

Qadaffy refuses to step down, saying he is supported by all Libyans apart from a minority of "rats" and al Qaeda gunnies, and that NATO strikes are a Western plot to steal Libya's oil.

In a report on Monday, the International Crisis Group (ICG) urged the rebels and their NATO allies to propose a ceasefire, arguing that demands that Qadaffy step down as a pre-condition and threats of war crimes charges had forced him into a corner.

"The (rebels) and their NATO supporters appear uninterested in resolving the conflict through negotiation," it said.

"To insist that he (Qadaffy) go now, as the precondition for any negotiation ... is to render a ceasefire all but impossible and so to maximize the prospect of continued armed conflict. To insist that he both leave ... and face trial in the International Criminal Court
... where Milosevich died of old age before being convicted ...
is virtually to ensure that he will stay in Libya to the bitter end and go down fighting."

In a sign NATO strikes may be aiding the rebel advance, the rebels seized Yafran, 100 km (60 miles) southwest of Tripoli, on Monday, after British warplanes had destroyed two tanks and two armored personnel carriers there on June 2.

In Brussels on Monday, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he would repeat calls for NATO allies to boost involvement at an alliance defense ministers meeting this week.

NATO decided last week to extend operations in Libya until the end of September.
Posted by:Fred

#2  Fred - better check the new server. There's an echo in here.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2011-06-08 22:59  

#1  LIBYA - R2P
Critics are calling it The feel-good movie of the Arab-Summer.


(Qeue) From ICG headquarters, Soros and our intrepid R2Per's release a report calling for an automatic time-out. (Meanwhile)...a UN mouthpiece blathers about an impending double-secret humanitarian crisis. (Action scenes from the front)...NATO jets pound the bujeebuz outta Trippoli in a daring day-time raid. And the Sec. Gen still calls for yet a bigger smack-down. (Somewhere in his secret lair)...Mighty Mo defiantly tells the world to fuck off. (Across the pond)...Angela gets her medal, a state dinner, assurances of IMF Greece dough and for the first time speaks publicly about Libyan reconstruction. (In exotic lands far, far away)...both the Rooskies and Chicoms tone down the static over Libyan kinnetics. (On a hot day in a dusty town)Mauratina says Mo's gotta go. (Back at the ranch)...President Obama stands firm and again calls for the Q-Man to step aside. (Fade to black...)

This movie has not been rated.
Posted by: DepotGuy   2011-06-08 11:44  

00:00