11/03/2011

PM Encourages EU Unity Over Libya

Speaking at the emergency EU summit, the Prime Minister has said European leaders must show "political will" and unity, as he called for an end to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

As Gaddafi's supporters make gains against rebels in Zawiya and Ras Lanuf, London and Paris are working to build support to authorise a no-fly zone in Libya.

In Brussels, the European Council meeting aimed to address the unrest as Gaddafi's forces storm previously unheld territory.

Employing aircraft and helicopters to launch attacks, Gaddafi's regime has been described as "waging war against his own people".

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I think it's important that the countries of Europe show political will, show ambition, show unity in being clear that Colonel Gaddafi must go and that his regime is illegitimate that what it is doing to his people is completely unacceptable.

"We are going to step up today, in the European Council, measures to isolate that regime and measures to put pressure on that regime and we should plan for every eventuality as I've been arguing now for around two weeks, this is absolutely vital work."

He also encouraged Europe to show ambition about the "democratic awakening" in North Africa, adding: "This is a potentially good moment for our world and we should grab it, seize it and shape it."

(BMcN/GK)


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