Italy warns 'NATO credibility at stake' over botched Libya air raid
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jun 20, IRNA -- Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Monday warned that NATO's credibility was 'at stake' over its botched air raid over Tripoli which resulted in the killing of civilians, according to media reports.
Speaking in Luxembourg ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, Frattini said, 'NATO's credibility is at stake, you cannot run the risk of killing civilians, this is absolutely not good.'
The western military alliance has faced major criticism over the lethal air raid on an apparent residential apartment complex in Tripoli late Sunday evening.
Frattini made also clear that NATO's war in Libya could not continue forever.
The Libyan conflict should end 'well before September,' which is the maximum timeline set by NATO for military action, he said.
Frattini's remarks followed strong criticism by Italy's NATO ally Germany which is not even involved in the Libyan war.
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maziere lashed out over the weekend at NATO's controversial military operation in Libya.
Talking to the Hamburg-based weekly news magazine Der Spiegel, said NATO's planning of the whole mission in the North African state was short-sighted.
'Of course, when you start something, you always have to know, how long you can sweat it out,' de Maziere was quoted saying.
Germany has been under intense pressure by its key NATO partners - notably the US, France and Britain - to join the military campaign.
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