Media group slams NATO bombing of Libyan TV
BRUSSELS (AP) – An international journalists’ group sharply criticised NATO air strikes against Libyan television, which killed three people and injured 15, saying Wednesday they violated international law and UN resolutions.
The International Federation of Journalists said the bombing Saturday was in contravention of a Security Council resolution passed in December 2006 that explicitly condemned such attacks against journalists and media.
„We utterly condemn this action, which targeted journalists and threatened their lives in violation of international law,” Brussels-based IFJ Secretary General Beth Costa said.
Libyan officials said the air strikes early Saturday killed three journalists and injured 15 other people.
NATO said the bombing of the Libyan TV’s satellite dishes was in compliance with the UN mandate authorising the strikes to protect the civilian population.
NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero there was evidence the state TV was increasingly being used by Muammar Qadhafi‘s regime to incite violence against the civilian population.
„It is for the military commander to decide on the selection of targets, but his decision is always made in full cognition of and in compliance with international law,” Romero said.
Costa dismissed that explanation, saying the use of „violence to stifle dissident media spell catastrophe for press freedom”.
„Our concern is that when one side decides to take out a media organisation because they regard its message as propaganda, then all media are at risk,” Costa said. „In conflict situations, international law is clear that unarmed journalists cannot be treated as combatants, irrespective of their political affiliations.”
She likened the air strikes to the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbian TV in Belgrade, which killed 16 people. At the time, NATO said the station was a legitimate target because it was a „propaganda mouthpiece” for the regime of Slobodan Milosevic.
Costa urged the alliance to refrain from further attacks on media.
NATO has been increasingly embarrassed by the failure of the bombing campaign, now in its fifth month, to dislodge Qadhafi’s regime. With the fasting month of Ramadan due to last through August, there is a growing realisation within the alliance that the costly campaign will drag on into autumn and possibly longer.
Stratfor, a US-based analysis group, said confidence among Western powers leading the air campaign was waning as chances for a quick victory receded.
„The strategy of bombing, waiting for the regime to implode… has been adopted in its stead,” said the analysis, released Tuesday.
The Jordan Times
4 july 2011
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in departare erau pescari care isi aruncau plasele si scoteau perle…nu stiu ce asteptam acolo si nici cum am ajuns…m-a trezit soneria de la ceas …Dupa ce au plecat copiii la scoala m-am apucat eu de-ale mele treburi…printre altele si maslinele care le pun in fiecare an
toamna la borcane…si tot invartite in apa acolo, mi s-a parut ca seamana cu perlele din vis…desigur la forma…La un timp m-am uitat pe TV si am vazut ca toata planeta vuieste de stirea ca il capturasera pe Gaddafi care era si ranit…ulterior au confirmat ca incetase din viata…toata lumea se bucura…Mi s-a facut parca rau…semana cu celelalte scene de bucurie pe care le-am vazut pe la tarile vecine ,bucurii, care au fost de scurta durata…acum nici ei nu stiu ce sentimente ii mai incearca dupa ce s-au scapat de „dictatori”…da ,ma rog ,fiecare cu ale lui, si eu cu gandul la perlele alea…doresc sa le fie bine la toti oamenii de pe lume!
Amman 
Jordanian Dinar Converter
mai multe...despre... 
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