'AU has not been ignored' on Libyan crisis--US Asst Sec for Africa
By Frank Sainworla, Jr/WADR
US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson has defended the US-Nato operations in Libya and dismissed claims that the African Union has been ignored.
“The African Union has not been ignored,” Carson responded to a question from a WADR Journalist on Monday at a press briefing in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, where he’s on a visit.
The American official said the US has continued to engage the AU on the Libyan crisis and disclosed that he was earlier on the phone with AU Commission Chairman, Jean Ping to encourage him to attend next week’s meeting in Paris of the International Contact Group on Libya.
Carson also dismissed claims that US support for the ‘promotion of democracy’ in Africa was couched in militarism, as seen in the ongoing Libyan crisis. He cited transitions to democratic rules after elections in Niger, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, Mauritania and Benin as cases where US support to democracy had nothing to do with militarism.
The US Assistant Secretary of State said the US-Nato alliance acted properly and in line with UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973.
According to him, the US-Nato intervention in Libya was intended to prevent massacres or genocides against innocent Libyan civilians, similar to the incidents in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia years ago.
Nato officials said since last March, the Western military alliance has carried out at least 8, 500 air strikes on Tripoli and other areas controlled by pro Gaddafi forces around Libya, when Nato took over command of the operation from the US.
The US-Nato air strikes, which have claimed the lives of a number of people, have been condemned in many parts of Africa and other parts. The Gadaffi regime had said some civilian targets were hit in the Nato-led operation.
Amid Nato's action in Libya, there have been fear of a possible backlash from extremists elements. When asked about the possibility that the operation in that North African country could cause a spread of terrorism, the US Under Secretary for Africa said he hoped it would not.
But he pointed out that 'in order for it not to happen,' Carson said African governments must take appropriate measures, enact good anti terror laws, forge regional cooperation, share information and work together to prevent terrorism.
The US State Department official urged African states to go after terrorists and not to allow their borders to be used by them.
Nato officials said since last March, the Western military alliance has carried out at least 8, 500 air strikes on Tripoli and other areas controlled by pro Gaddafi forces around Libya, when Nato took over command of the operation from the US.
The US-Nato air strikes, which have claimed the lives of a number of people, have been condemned in many parts of Africa and other parts. The Gadaffi regime had said some civilian targets were hit in the Nato-led operation.
Amid Nato's action in Libya, there have been fear of a possible backlash from extremists elements. When asked about the possibility that the operation in that North African country could cause a spread of terrorism, the US Under Secretary for Africa said he hoped it would not.
But he pointed out that 'in order for it not to happen,' African governments must take appropriate measures, enact good anti terror laws, forge regional cooperation, share information and work together to prevent terrorism.
The US State Department official urged African states to go after terrorists and not to allow their borders to be used by them.
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