According to the apostolic vicar of Tripoli, the bombings by European forces are not resolving anything and the international community would do well to turn to the African Union to provide a peaceful solution.
Bishop Giovanni Martinelli told Fides: “I have trust in African wisdom to resolve the crisis. The Europeans delude themselves that they can resolve this matter with bombs. We need to allow room for mediation by the African Union.”
Last month, protestors in Libya began calling for the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi, the country’s leader for 42 years. The protest soon escalated into armed conflict, with Gaddafi controlling Tripoli and the rebel leaders making their headquarters in Benghazi. In the wake of reports of “massacres” of the protestors and bombings of the rebel forces by Gaddafi, the U.N. Security Council passed Resolution 1973 last week. This resolution authorized the international community to establish a no-fly zone, and to allow for the use of “all means necessary” for the protection of Libyan civilians.
On Saturday, several countries launched bombing attacks on the Libyan military systems in Tripoli and elsewhere. Bishop Martinelli stated to Fides, “I am not afraid of the bombs, but rather the inability to try and dialogue to find a peaceful solution.”
He reported on Wednesday: “The bombing continues. The explosions haven’t stopped from last night to early this morning. It has been awful. There seems to be a pause for the moment.
“But I repeat, I am not afraid of the bombs as much as I am the inability of everyone to find a peaceful solution.”
The prelate noted that on Wednesday evening that “Gaddafi reappeared on television and said that he will never surrender.”
TRIPOLI, Libya, MARCH 24, 2011 (Zenit.org)