Washington: US President Barack Obama
held a video conference with British Premier David Cameroon, French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss and review the ongoing Libyan
military operations.
"They had a broad strategic discussion of recent
events in the Middle East and focused particular attention on
Libya and Egypt," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said
yesterday, adding that this was a part of Obama's regular
consultations with European allies.
The US and European leaders agreed that Gaddafi had
lost any legitimacy to rule and should leave power, and that the Libyan people should have the political space to determine their own future, he said.
"They also discussed the transition to NATO command and control to enforce UNSCR 1973. President Obama reiterated
that the United States will provide supporting capabilities to
the Coalition effort," Carney said.
Welcoming the international conference that will be
held today in London, the leaders reviewed the significant
progress achieved by coalition forces during the first phase
of operations to enforce UN Security Council Resolutions 1970
and 1973 for protecting civilians in Libya and preventing a humanitarian crisis.
The leaders also discussed the latest political developments in Egypt following the March 19 constitutional
referendum and additional ways, the international community
could help support the democratic transition there, the White
House official said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 29, 2011, 12:12