THE EUROPEAN Union yesterday pledged support “long into the future” for democracy in Libya through a new office in the rebel base of Benghazi, after Nato jet fighters pounded targets linked to Muammar Gadafy’s regime.
Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, held talks with opposition leaders on possible support in areas ranging from health to security, in the latest sign of western countries throwing their weight behind the eastern-based uprising.
A growing military, economic and political squeeze has built some pressure on Col Gadafy’s dictatorship, although there are international disagreements over how effective this is, how much force Nato should use and how closely other countries should embrace the rebels. Ms Ashton said the new office in Benghazi was a sign of the EU’s “unfaltering support for the Libyan people”. She said: “I have seen the vision of the Libyan people today all around.
“I saw the posters as I came from the airport with the words ‘We have a dream’.”
In a statement after meeting Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the rebels’ civilian national transitional council, Ms Ashton said the EU mission would look at potential co-operation with rebels on border management, security reform, the economy, health, education and in building civil society. The EU would not offer the weapons the opposition says it needs against the still better armed and trained Gadafy forces.
The EU overture comes just over three months after the armed uprising began in Benghazi and spread rapidly through eastern Libya and beyond, before being beaten back by troops loyal to Col Gadafy. Regime forces have been checked by Nato bombing raids that began more than two months ago under a UN mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
Nato said it launched a further 49 missions on Saturday, hitting a command and control facility near Tripoli, ammunition dumps and air defence radars.
The military alliance’s aircraft struck again on Saturday night at Col Gadafy’s previously targeted compound in Tripoli, according to a regime spokesman. Journalists were taken by the government to the gates of the command and control facility in the early hours of Sunday but not allowed to enter.
The military alliance defended its strikes two days previously on Libyan ships in the ports of Tripoli, Sirte and Al Khums, including a frigate and seven coastguard patrol boats.
Commodore Omran Mohammed el-Forjani, head of Libya’s coastguard, said the bombings were unjustified, especially as the vessels had not left port since late March. – (Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2011)