NATO refuses to stop Libya bombings

Italy has called for the suspension of hostilities as the civilian death toll mounts NATO will continue its bombing campaign in Libya, alliance chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday, amid calls from Italy for a halt to hostilities in the north African nation. "NATO will continue this mission because if we stop, countless more civilians could lose their lives," Rasmussen said in a video statement on the NATO website.
A NATO spokeswoman told AFP the secretary general was not reacting to remarks made earlier by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, who called for "an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities" in Libya to make space for humanitarian aid corridors.
Rasmussen also addressed charges that NATO caused civilian deaths in recent air raids -- incidents Frattini warned could harm the alliance's credibility.
"Since the start of this mission we have conducted over 5,000 strikes sorties, and as our record shows we have taken utmost care to minimise the risk of civilian casualties and we continue to do that every day and every hour," the NATO chief said.
"I deeply regret any loss of life in this conflict," he added.
The alliance has admitted that one of its bombs misfired in Tripoli on Sunday, hitting a residential area in an incident the Libyan regime says killed nine people.
"We continue to look into the specifics of the recent incident in Tripoli. But remember, the Gaddafi regime began this conflict by attacking its own people with sustained and systematic violence, not NATO," Rasmussen said.
"It is Gaddafi regime forces that are shelling the cities with tanks and heavy artillery, not NATO.
"And it is the Gaddafi regime that fires rockets from mosques and sites military bunkers next to children's playgounds, not NATO."