This is an addendum to the feature article Europe takes the strain on Operation 'Unified Protector', published on 1 July.

NATO is seeking an urgent exit strategy from Libya that will end the fighting and decide the future of embattled leader Moammar Gadhafi, even if that means letting him stay in the country though out of power, it emerged Tuesday after British and French foreign ministers met in London. [ABSTRACT]

Russia's envoy to NATO has again blasted France's move to arm Libyan rebels but says his country has no plans to supply weapons to Libya leader Moammar Gadhafi. [ABSTRACT]

The article looks at the U.S. involvement in the United Nations' plan to protect the citizens of Libya as rebel forces attempt to remove leader Muammar Qaddafi from power, focusing on the perceived goals of U.S. president Barack Obama. The author compares the involvement of the U.S. in Libya to its involvement in the affairs of other countries, including Egypt, Iraq, and Afghanistan.[ABSTRACT]

WAM Istanbul, Jul 16th, 2011 (WAM) -- The regional and international powers who met in Istanbul on Friday under the umbrella of the International Contact Group on Libya gave full recognition to the National Transitional Council (NTC) that represents the rebels [ABSTRACT]

from the print edition

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting Nato leaders in Turkey to seek a solution to the Libya crisis

Even as rebel commanders predict victory is near, the rebel leadership is short of cash to fight the rebellion and run civilian affairs. The lucrative oil industry has been shut down by the fighting.

Opposition forces dig in to defend recaptured Qwalish, south of the Libyan capital, and plan new offensive in the east.

The Royal Navy, Army and RAF have continued to protect Libyan civilians at risk of attack from Gaddafi's forces over the last few days with a number of strikes on key targets.

The campaign group Human Rights Watch has accused rebels in Libya of looting, arson and the abuse of civilians.

Rebels reclaim Qawalish, just hours after Gaddafi forces had taken the strategically important village.

Italy is pulling out some of its forces. France is pondering a negotiated end to the conflict. And no one knows what rebel victory would bring.

France says it has had contacts with envoys from Muammar Gaddafi who say the Libyan leader is "prepared to leave".

Libyan emissaries say Gaddafi is ready to go, as French parliament votes in favour of extending its military operation.

The article discusses the uncertainties surrounding efforts to oust Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. According to the author, the Western countries involved in the conflict have vague and differing goals for its outcome. It is suggested that intervention on behalf of Libyan civilians was necessary but that the conflict could be a long and costly one for the West. Topics discussed include U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, no-fly zones, and Libya's foreign minister Musa Kusa.

La France et le Président de la République, Nicolas Sarkozy, étaient en première ligne pour que la résolution de l'ONU visant a accepter une intervention armée en Libye soit votée. Cette prise de position pour l’avènement de la démocratie dans un pays arabe est une première pour l’hexagone et marque un changement radical de la diplomatie française.

Saif al-Islam's comments came a few hours after French defence minister said the rebels should negotiate with Tripoli.

It is too easily forgotten that warfare is not primarily a matter of law. Under international law, the UN Security Council blessed NATO’s Libya campaign without the necessary debates over its consequences

President Jacob Zuma has once again lashed out at the Nato-led military intervention in Libya, saying it amounted to undermining the African Union.

This document uses open-source material to provide a general overview of the Libyan rebel forces.

The US House of Representatives has voted to prevent the Pentagon from supplying weapons, training or advice to Libyan rebels.

Response follows Gaddafi official's claim that alliance is going beyond UN mandate to protect civilian lives.

Rebel leaders in Misrata say progress towards the capital Tripoli is being hampered by a lack of ammunition and inadequate support from Nato.

Libya's rebel fighters are closing in on what they believe is a major weapons supply route for Qaddafi forces.

The Pentagon is asking Congress if it can move money around in its budget to replace the spent ordnance

Libya has been ruled for decades as an unrelenting autocracy: there has been little space for political competition, despite Colonel Gaddafi's belief that such a system exemplified 'perfect governance'. The regime's rapid loss of control in the first half of 2011 is explained by the geography of power in Libya, which splits the country between east and west, and by the inability of such an autocratic regime to make concessions to popular demand. Can the new interim council in Benghazi wrench control from Tripoli or will Gaddafi be able to resist change, despite the determination of the international community?

Fighters take town of al-Qawalish after six-hour battle and move closer to cutting supply route to capital

The detachment of around 200 personnel at Trapani, on the Italian island of Sicily, is playing a key role in the RAF's contribution to Operation ELLAMY, the UK operations over Libya.

Libyan rebels have reportedly taken control of the village of Gualish, some 100km (60 miles) south-west of the capital, Tripoli.

Le CICR gagne progressivement accès aux régions de toute la Libye où le besoin d’aide humanitaire serait le plus pressant. Après avoir atteint le sud-ouest, le personnel du CICR est entré maintenant dans les montagnes du Djebel Nafoussa.

Despite the Russian media report, the Libyan government denies Qaddafi will consider stepping down and rebels say he must face justice.

Royal Navy minehunter HMS Brocklesby was given a hero's welcome by friends and family yesterday as she returned to Portsmouth Naval Base after five months supporting operations against Libya from the Mediterranean.

Libyan rebels have succeeded in creating a defensive arc south and west of the port of Misrata by linking up two fronts, they have told the BBC.

Le pays s’éloigne chaque jour plus d’une sortie de crise pacifique

Government spokesman says two boats carrying weapons for rebels seized from west of Tripoli.

Nato's chief has staunchly defended its operation in Libya during a meeting of the Nato-Russia Council in the southern Russian resort town of Sochi.

On the surface, life goes on. Beneath it, Libyans nervously watch and wait

Libya is a small test for the international order. When harder tests come, rough norms not underpinned by an underlying, shared security concept will not suffice.

Fears that Libya will become the next Somalia are probably over-blown, but any democratic transition is likely to be protracted and fragile.

Gerry Adams asked Edward Luck, the United Nations Special Advisor for the Responsibility to Protect, why the UN Security Council explicitly cited the principle in relation to what’s happening in that country.

South African president to hold talks with Russian counterpart in bid to resolve conflict raging for nearly five months.

Libya rebel leaders said this weekend that will try to recapture territory on the road to Tripoli, which could put them within striking distance of the capital.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi should stop issuing threats against Europeans and resign instead, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says.

As African heads of state gather to discuss the future of the youth of the continent, Libya’s Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is a noticeable absentee at the African Union (AU) summit in Equatorial Guinea.

Libyan rebel leader Mahmud Jibril has said he respects Germany's decision not to take part in military action in Libya, after a meeting in Berlin. He also appealed for supplies to help treat wounded rebel fighters.

The article looks at the U.S. involvement in the United Nations' plan to protect the citizens of Libya as rebel forces attempt to remove leader Muammar Qaddafi from power, focusing on the perceived goals of U.S. president Barack Obama. The author compares the involvement of the U.S. in Libya to its involvement in the affairs of other countries, including Egypt, Iraq, and Afghanistan..

France's admission Wednesday that it provided weapons to Libyan rebels renews debate on the legality and wisdom of arming rebels in conflicts whose outcome is unpredictable.

Russia has strongly criticised France for dropping weapons to Libyan rebels and demanded an explanation from Paris.