Pax Christi reacts to Libyan campaign

Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi attacked two Libyan towns today after a third night of air raids on Tripoli by Western powers. The United States, Britain, and France have been leading military efforts to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians after an uprising against Gaddafi's 41-year rule after a UN Security Council resolution authorized the use of “all means necessary” to protect civilians.

Rebels, who were driven back towards their eastern Benghazi stronghold before the air attacks halted an advance by Gaddafi forces, have done nothing to resume their planned advance on Tripoli -- raising fears the war could grind to a stalemate.

“We are really watching with deep concern because of our fear of the escalation of the use of military force against the Gaddafi regime,” says Pat Gaffney, the general secretary of Pax Christi – UK.

“There is a huge responsibility on the coalition to really work very tightly on the remit they have been given which puts the burden on the protection civilians,” she told Vatican Radio. “Our fear is that, unless this very tightly controlled, that we could see another long war being developed, with the no-fly zone being extended, with other factors coming in that become critical for the coalition’s desire to get rid of Gaddafi. I think these things really must be resisted.”

Listen to the full interview by Charles Collins with Pat Gaffney: