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(HERALD, reuters) British prime minister brushes off Libyan war talk

British prime minister brushes off Libyan war talk
Wednesday, 22 June 2011 01:00
LONDON/DAFNIYA.

British Prime Minister David Cameron brushed aside doubts yesterday over how long Britain could maintain its role in Libya, saying it could stay in the fight for as long as needed.

Senior British military officers have complained about the strain on defence resources as the Nato bombing campaign enters its fourth month and rebels seeking to oust Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi sustain new losses.

The alliance for the first time admitted killing civilians in an aerial attack last week and Libya's accusation on Monday that a further 19 died in a separate Nato air strike has raised further questions about the operation.
"I'm absolutely confident that we can keep this pressure up, we can maintain this mission for as long as is necessary," Cameron said after British media cited a leaked note from an air chief marshal warning of low morale in the force.

"Time is on our side, not on Gaddafi's side," he told a news conference in London. Rebels have made slow progress since Nato countries joined the fight in March but are now inching towards Tripoli from a bastion in Misrata east of the capital and from the Western Mountains region to its southwest. However, the going has been tough and a medical official said yesterday 11 rebel fighters were killed and 36 were wounded in fighting around Misrata on Monday.

"Gaddafi's forces have moved forward about a kilometre ," Dr Mohammed Grigda said.

- Reuters.

Labels: LIBYA, MUAMMAR AL-GADDAFI, NEOCOLONIALISM

posted by MrK @ 3:18 PM