The Party of the European Left strongly condemns the repression perpetrated by the criminal regime of Colonel Gaddafi that has already provoked the death of 300 civilians and urges the EU to condemn the use of force and to act promptly to protect the people that is peacefully demonstrating and struggling for his freedom. EU must clarify its position on the events unfolding there.

Baroness Ashton travels today to Cairo, following a surprise visit to Egypt yesterday by British prime minister David Cameron.

However, the position of EU in relation to Libya has been of developing relations. In last October, the Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Cecilia Malstromm and the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Stefan Fule, were in Tripoli and declared that "we share common interests such as trade, energy, security and development in Africa", initiating a framework that involves energy, transport, immigration, visas, justice, environment, fisheries, marine exploration and education but negotiations between Brussels and Tripoli have never put emphasis on the question of human and civil rights.

The protests in Libya and the collapse of the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia have prompted fear of rising migration along Europe’s Mediterranean rim. “Italy, as you know, is the closest neighbour both of Tunisia and Libya so we are extremely concerned about the repercussions on the migratory situation in the southern Mediterranean,” said Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini, adding that Europe's concern should be to provide "national reconciliation" and  to "raise funds" as the whole continent will be affected "by economic collapse in North Africa.

Saif Islam, one of the sons of the head of the regime, said that the number of victims is exaggerated.

On the contrary, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, has declared that there are still reasons to justify the departure of French citizens. In Italy, Berlusconi stressed that the events "will not disturb" the personal friendship that he has with Gaddafi. " Karl Scwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, one of the last countries to lift the embargo against Libya, stated that "Europe should not get much involved with the anti-regime in Libya," because, he defended, "if Gaddafi will fall major disasters in the world will happen."

During this morning, U.N. rights chief urged to stop the violence. "I am extremely worried that lives are being lost even as I speak. The international community must unite in condemnation of such acts and make unequivocal commitments to ensure justice is rendered to the thousands of victims of this repression."

 

She has called for the "immediate cessation of the grave human rights violations committed by Libyan authorities and urged an independent international investigation into the violent suppression of protests in the country. They have long been victims of the serious excesses of the Libyan leadership.The Libyan people are tired of corruption, tired of resource wealth benefiting only a few, tired of being unemployed, tired of their rights being ignored," she said. "They want a say in the government and a role in the economy and they will not be silenced."