[ 2011-08-13 ]

Libya slams UN chief over civilian deaths comments
Libya on Saturday accused UN chief Ban Ki-moon of
playing with words after he acknowledged NATO
efforts to avoid civilian casualties a day after
urging restraint over "unacceptably" high deaths.

"The secretary general has consistently called for
restraint and caution to avoid civilian
casualties. He of course recognises and
appreciates NATO's efforts to avoid civilian
casualties," UN spokesman Farhan Haq told
reporters on Friday.

In a statement released by his office on Thursday,
Ban had sounded the alarm over civilian deaths and
called for new efforts to find a political
solution between Libya's long-time strongman
Moamer Kadhafi and opposition rebels.

Without specifically naming any side, Ban called
on "all parties" to use "extreme caution" in the
battle.

"The secretary general is deeply concerned by
reports of the unacceptably large number of
civilian casualties as a result of the conflict in
Libya," said a statement.

Ban "calls on all parties to exercise extreme
caution in their actions, in order to minimise any
further loss of civilian life."

But Libya's Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim
told reporters early on Saturday Ban's statement
was "unacceptable" for not singling out NATO for
"being responsible for civilian deaths in Libya."

"The only party that must be blamed for the loss
of civilian lives is NATO," he said.

Kaaim on Saturday also denied that the rebels had
entered the eastern oil hub of Brega almost six
months after rising up against Kadhafi's forces,
inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.

They vowed on Friday that in "a few days" they
plan to retake Brega on the Gulf of Sirte.

Rebels, backed by NATO helicopters, have tried for
the past three weeks to seize the vital port 240
kilometres (140 miles) southwest of their eastern
stronghold of Benghazi.

By late Thursday, after a day of fighting, the
rebels said they had taken control of one of three
residential zones in Brega.

"Every day, we are gaining ground," said Fawzi
Bukatif, a civil engineer and a top commander of
the insurrection.

In Benghazi on Friday, the rebels buried five
"martyrs," including the commander of a brigade of
volunteer civilians, killed the day before on the
front line at Brega, an AFP journalist said.

"Today we are in mourning. Tomorrow we take
revenge," said a lieutenant at the funeral before
heading back to the front.

Meanwhile, rebels from Misrata pushed against
Kadhafi's troops in Tuarga in an effort to end the
barrage of missiles hitting the western town
almost daily.

Rebels controlled much of Tuarga on Friday, an AFP
correspondent witnessed.

They searched the town door-to-door for remnants
of Kadhafi's forces, after clearing residential
areas in the north and centre.

In a symbolic show of victory, fighters tore down
green flags hoisted by Kadhafi supporters who just
hours earlier had occupied the area.

The two sides exchanged artillery fire that
doctors said left at least three rebels dead and
as many as 30 wounded.

Source - AFP

... go Back