China: Military Action Won't Solve Libyan Crisis

The Associated Press reports:

Military action alone won't resolve the Libyan crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday in a warning to nations conducting the NATO-led air campaign in Libya.

Following talks in London with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Chinese leader said his nation backed attempts to reach a political solution over calls for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to step down after 42 years in power.

"Foreign troops may be able to win war in a place, but they can hardly win peace. Hard lessons have been learned from what has happened in the Middle East and Afghanistan," Wen told reporters at a press conference with Cameron.

He said China still supported the U.N. Security Council resolution that authorized air strikes against Libya to protect civilians, but insisted the nations involved must comply with the strict terms.