EU leaders call on Qaddafi to step down immediately
| Madrid
European leaders meeting in Brussels on Friday gave strong diplomatic support to the rebels fighting Libya's strongman Muammar Qaddafi but stopped short of joining France in officially recognizing them.
They conditioned any European Union military involvement, such as air strikes or enforcing a no-fly zone, to having 鈥渁 demonstrable need, a clear legal basis, and support from the region.鈥� The EU is seeking a United Nations mandate and involvement of the United States as well as Arab and African countries, according to a joint statement.
The EU called for a 鈥渞apid holding鈥� of a meeting with leaders of countries belonging to the Arab League and African Union to agree on a common response.
EU calls on Qaddafi to step down
While the European response was stronger than initially expected, it lacks the muscle and immediacy to blunt Mr. Qaddafi loyalists鈥� gains against rebels who are reportedly starting to retreat to their Benghazi stronghold.
鈥淐olonel Qaddafi must relinquish power immediately. His regime has lost all legitimacy and is no longer an interlocutor for the EU,鈥� the EU statement said. About the rebels, the EU said it 鈥渨elcomes and encourages the interim transitional national council based in Benghazi which it considers a political interlocutor.鈥�
France and the Britain wanted more support for the military option, 鈥渙n the express condition that the UN wants it, the Arab League accepts it, and the Libyan authority that we want to see recognized, wants it,鈥� said French President Nicholas Sarkozy.
EU leaders only threatened Libya with additional sanctions and offered aid in an eventful reconstruction. And while it didn鈥檛 rule out the military card, saying 鈥渋n order to protect the civilian population, Member States will examine all necessary options,鈥� the bar was set high. More important, the decision was delegated to Arab and African leaders. The Arab League delegates will meet Saturday in Egypt.
The caution is similar to Washington鈥檚 approach. Rebel envoys will meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but the US also wants a UN mandate and regional involvement.
Sarkozy's bold move pressured EU leaders
European leaders were caught off guard by Mr. Sarkozy, who Thursday recognized the rebels, and ahead of the summit publicly called on his counterparts to do the same. European diplomats balked at breaking standard policy that only states, not organizations, can be recognized.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the aftermath of the summit said 鈥渨e want dictator Qaddafi to step down鈥� and that indeed Germany, too, has had contact with the self-appointed transitional council in Benghazi. 鈥淭hat does not constitute recognition as the only interlocutor, but they are an interlocutor with whom we can discuss certain situations.鈥�
Mrs. Merkel also distanced herself from the military option and insisted the initiative in any case had to come the region. 鈥淣ow is in no way the time for military action,鈥� Merkel said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fundamentally skeptical because you need to consider the final consequences.鈥�
Sarkozy also addressed consequences. 鈥淲e consider that if Qaddafi stays in place, it would be a bad sign for countries in the region.鈥�
