On Friday we discussed what the no-fly zone over Libya meant and how it would be placed into effect by the international community. “But the UN resolution is limited in its scope. It explicitly does not provide legal authority for action to bring about Gaddafi’s removal from power by military means,” explained UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

One can’t really call this a twist of fate for Gaddafi, as anything is still possible and his compound in Tripoli has already been attacked twice this weekend by cruise missiles.

The first attack did damage to the compound, and foreign journalists were allowed in to see the damage. What is also still unclear is exactly where Gaddafi is at the moment.

Always careful with his wording, Cameron joined our own president Jacob Zuma in denouncing the removal of Gaddafi from office, per se. However, Cameron reaffirmed that Libyan civilians should be protected at all costs:

As I’ve said, we will help fulfil the UN Security Council [resolution] – it is for the Libyan people to determine their government and their destiny. But our view is clear – there is no decent future for Libya with Colonel Gaddafi remaining in power. [The world cannot] stand aside while this dictator murders his own people.

The UK’s Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards agreed with Cameron and Zuma:

No, absolutely not. It’s not allowed under the UN resolution and it’s not something I want to discuss any further.

There is confusion though; Defence Secretary Liam Fox is quoted as saying that an attack on Gaddafi is,

Potentially a possibility, but you mention immediately one of the problems we would have, which is that you would have to take into account any civilian casualties that might result from that.

And the discourse of what constitutes war crimes begins.

A BBC correspondent, Duncan Kennedy, reported a little over an hour ago that: “

Fighter aircraft from several nations in the coalition have been converging on air bases across southern Italy. Here at Gioia del Colle… at least 10 combat jets have arrived. Britain’s jets are using Gioia del Colle because it’s close to Libya, allowing aircraft to patrol deeper into Libyan territory and to remain in its airspace for much longer periods without mid-air refuelling.

Anything can still happen. The winner will be the nation best skilled in the art of navigating diplomatic waters.

[Source: BBC]