London to stay course in Libya

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LONDON, June 29 (UPI) -- London will sustain operations for the no-fly zone over Libya as long as it takes to convince the regime to stop attacking civilians, a British official said.

U.N. Security Council resolutions passed early this year sanctioned an international military response in Libya to protect civilians from attacks by forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The International Criminal Court this week issued an arrest warrant for Gadhafi, his son and his intelligence minister for alleged crimes against humanity committed since February.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague in statements before the House of Commons said London was determined to stay in the fight in Libya.

"We can and we will sustain these operations for as long as necessary, until the regime ceases attacks on its own people and complies with the U.N. resolutions," he said in his statements.

The ICC prosecutor said before the court issued the arrest warrants that Gadhafi had employed snipers against the civilian population. Allegations also surfaced the Libyan leader was using rape as a weapon of war.

Hague said Gadhafi's actions suggest there isn't a future for the colonel in a future Libya.

In Washington, President Barack Obama continues to defend his decision to commit military forces to the intervention in Libya. His critics complain he overstepped his authority by committing military assets to Libya without congressional approval. Obama has shrugged off the complaints, however.