Just back from i/v with #nato sec gen Rasmussen. Here's the copy I've filed.



From Stuart Hughes, World Affairs Producer in Berlin

The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has defended the alliance’s operation in Libya after warnings from rebels in the besieged city of Misrata that they face a “massacre” by pro-Gaddafi forces.

In a BBC interview, Mr Rassmussen said NATO forces targeted pro-Gaddafi troops when they attacked civilians but said that eliminating the threat from snipers in the city was a “real problem” because of the danger of causing civilian casualties through air strikes.

Mr Rasmussen said he had “full confidence” in his military commanders and stressed the unity of all NATO members in supporting the military operation against Colonel Gaddafi.

He admitted that the UN Security Resolution authorizing air strikes on Libya had limits, but said that NATO could still “do a lot” to put pressure on Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.

On the issue of strike aircraft, Mr Rasmussen said he had received indications at the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Berlin that nations would “step up to the plate” to resource the NATO campaign fully.

He said the message was clear to Colonel Gaddafi that it was “game over” and the current regime in Libya had no future.

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