France, Britain urge NATO to press harder on Libya

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By RAF CASERT and DON MELVIN, Associated Press Raf Casert And Don Melvin, Associated Press – 37 mins ago

LUXEMBOURG – France and Britain urged their NATO allies, including the United States, to step up the campaign Tuesday against Moammar Gadhafi‘s forces, exposing a major faultline in the military alliance after three weeks of airstrikes have failed to oust the Libyan leader.

Paris lamented the limited U.S. military role in Libya and chided Germany for its lack of involvement. In a dire analysis, France’s defense minister acknowledged that without full American participation in the combat operation, the West probably can’t stop Gadhafi’s attacks on besieged rebel cities.

A top NATO general retorted that the alliance was “doing a great job.”

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe shredded NATO’s united front, saying its actions were “not enough” to ease the pressure on Libya’s rebel-held city of Misrata, which has been subjected to weeks of bombardment by forces loyal to Gadhafi.

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To read the complete article, click here -> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110412/ap_on_re_eu/libya_diplomacy

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NATO general: ‘We’re doing a great job’ in Libya

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AP – 31 mins ago

BRUSSELS — A NATO general is rejecting French criticism of the operation in Libya, saying the alliance is performing well and protecting civilians.

France‘s foreign minister said earlier Tuesday that NATO needed to do more to take out the heavy weaponry that has repeatedly checked the advances of opposition forces. Alain Juppe told France-Info radio, “NATO has to play its role in full.”

Dutch Brig. Gen. Mark Van Uhm says the alliance was successful in enforcing an arms embargo, patrolling a no fly zone and protecting civilians.

Van Uhm says, “I think with the assets we have, we’re doing a great job.”

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To read the complete article, click here -> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110412/ap_on_re_eu/libya_diplomacy

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