Active phase of anti-Libyan operation will finish soon – Gates

22.03.2011 Coalition task force will soon terminate an active phase of combat actions in Libya, said US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Tuesday after meeting with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Serdiukov.

Military operations which are actively under way will be drastically stopped in several days, said Gates.

UN Security Council adopted a resolution on March 17 allowing to block Libyan airspace with the view to cease air strikes upon rebels and stop death among civilians. Western coalition started a military operation against Libya two days later – on March 19. The US and Great Britain launched somewhat 120 Tomahawks; reportedly, over 60 civilians were killed and hundreds were wounded.

The Pentagon chief said Libya's future would depend on its people. "That is a matter for the Libyans themselves to decide", Gates said.

As for him, resolutions adopted by Arab League and Gulf States prove the fact that Gaddafi kills own population.

Gates said coalition force would do whatever possible to avoid victims amid civilians. According to him, all targets of strikes are far away from peaceful population.

Anatoly Serdiukov said in his turn that immediate ceasefire and beginning of dialog would be the shortest route towards safety of non-combatants and long-term stabilization in Libya.

"Once again we call opponents in Libya and coalition participants to stop violence", said the Russian defense minister.

He reminded that Russia proceeds from the assumption that the Resolution 1973 allows only protection of civilians and non-escalation of the conflict.