France to NATO: Do More in Libya

BBC reports:

Nato must do more to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, the French and British foreign ministers have said.

Libyan civilians remain at risk, France's Alain Juppe said, despite the ongoing Nato-led bombing campaign.

The UK's William Hague urged Nato allies to intensify military operations against the Libyan regime and called on Col Gaddafi to step down.

Libyan rebels opposing Col Gaddafi have been pushed back despite the air raids.

"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough".

Mr Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, saying: "We must maintain and intensify our efforts in Nato.

"That is why the United Kingdom has in the last weeks supplied additional aircraft capable of striking ground targets threatening the civilian population.

"Of course it would be welcome if other countries also did the same," he said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

The US and other Western allies began air strikes on 19 March after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces.

After initial sorties were flown under US command, Nato took over operational responsibility for the campaign on 31 March.

Despite this, heavy weapons are still being used to bombard the rebel-held western Libyan city of Misrata, reports say. Mortars and rocket launchers are thought to be hidden in built-up areas that are difficult to target safely from the air.