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NATO abuses UN resolution on Libya - South Africa
South African President, Jacob Zuma has commented on the actions of NATO in Libya, saying it was abusing a United Nations' resolution to protect Libyan civilians from Muammar Gaddafi's forces in order to pursue regime change and political assassinations.
Zuma said this on Tuesday while addressing the parliament.
Misused intention
Zuma, who has visited Libya twice since March on behalf of the African Union (AU) to seek a solution to the civil war, said NATO had overstepped the UN Resolution, passed in March authorising the use of military force to protect civilians.
"We have spoken out against the misuse of the good intentions in Resolution 1973.We strongly believed that the resolution is being abused for regime change, political assassinations and foreign military occupation." he said in parliament.
A crisis resolution body
Zuma said events in Libya had emphasised the need for an African Peace and Security Architecture, a planned crisis resolution body that includes a stand-by military force.
The South African president said he hoped that a briefing by an AU committee on Libya to the UN Security Council on Wednesday would lead to common ground being found towards a lasting solution to the crisis
NATO defence chiefs were due to meet in Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss the mission after US Defense Secretary, Robert Gates accused some European allies of failing to pull their weight in a mission he feared could run out of steam.
REUTERS/Shakira
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