Italy calls for suspension of hostilities in Libya
The Italian foreign minister has called for the “immediate suspension” of hostilities
in Libya to allow for the creation of humanitarian corridors.
In comments to
a parliamentary commission, Italy’s foreign minister Franco Frattini said Wednesday
that an “end of military operations is essential to allow for immediate aid” to areas
including the rebels' western stronghold of Misrata and around Tripoli, the Libyan
capital and stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi.
A NATO-led bombing campaign that
began in March was aimed at protecting civilians under a U.N. resolution, but Frattini
also expressed concern over civilian casualties, referring to “dramatic errors” in
the bombing campaign.
On Wednesday NATO warplanes resumed daytime strikes on
targets in the Libyan capital. It wasn't immediately clear what had been hit or if
there were casualties.
Meanwhile, China's foreign minister sought to bolster
ties with Libya's rebels on Wednesday, telling the opposition leader that his Transitional
National Council represents a growing segment of the Libyan public.
The remarks
were China's strongest endorsement of the council yet, marking an attempt to hedge
China's bets over the outcome to the Libyan conflict and dealing a further diplomatic
setback to Moammar Gadhafi.