Britain and France urge G8 to take action against Gadhafi
As Libyan rebels are attacked again, world powers are still mulling a no-fly zone. Germany, the US and Russia remained cautious going into a G8 meeting on Libya, but Britain advocated arming the rebels.
Gadhafi loyalists continued their attacks on rebel-held positions on Monday with heavy shelling and air strikes. Government forces shelled the Libyan town of Ajdabiyah after sweeping east, rebels said. Air strikes were also reported from the area.
The lightly-armed rebels have been pushed back some 200 kilometres by superior forces in recent days, retreating from the coastal towns of Ras Lanuf and Brega in quick succession under shelling and air assaults.
Meanwhile France and Britain have stepped up their efforts to persuade world powers to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.
France, hosting a two-day G8 foreign ministers meeting which started on Monday, said it was consulting other powers to try to set up a no-fly zone to assure the protection of civilians "in the face of the terrible violence suffered by the Libyan population."
France said it would try to achieve agreement among the G8 on what action should be taken in Libya in order to speed up a UN Security Council decision on whether to impose a no-fly zone.
France has formally recognized the opposition national council as Libya's legitimate representatives and the European Union has agreed to talk to them.
dw-world.de
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