MASSACRE IN LIBYA ‘AVERTED BY EU’


Herman Van Rompuy faced ridicule last night

Thursday April 7,2011
By Macer Hall

HERMAN Van Rompuy faced ridicule last night after claiming the European Union had saved Libya from a bloodbath.

The European Council President insisted allied military action to protect Libyan civilians from attacks by Colonel Gaddafi’s forces had been a victory for Brussels diplomacy.

But his claim provoked astonishment at Westminster yesterday.

Critics pointed out that intervention was launched only after a United Nations resolution initially proposed by Britain.

His remarks will also surprise RAF crews and other personnel policing the no-fly zone.

In a speech to Euro-MPs in Brussels, Belgian Mr Van Rompuy said: “A massive bloodbath has been avoided.

“From the beginning, the European Union was at the forefront. Without European leadership there would have been massacres. We acted in time and without Europe nothing would have been done at the global level or at the UN level.â€