By IRNA,
Berlin: EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy said on Friday that the European Union leaders are open to ‘all options’ in confronting the regime of the Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
He made the remark following an emergency summit on Libya in Brussels.
Van Rompuy did not categorically rule out a western military intervention in the strife-torn Libya, saying EU member states were contemplating ‘all necessary options’ to protect civilians in the North African country.
‘To safeguard civilians, member states will examine all necessary options to protect civilians, provided there is demonstrable need, a clear legal basis and support from the region,’ Van Rompuy was quoted saying.
Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy pointed out that the EU final declaration on the Libyan crisis did not exclude ‘the military option.’
Britain and France have strongly pressed for military actions in a bid to oust the Gaddafi regime.
In other related news, the EU is planning soon to convene a summit with the Arab League and the African Union, according to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
The EU has reiterated that any military intervention in Libya must have the support
of the Arab and the African regional states.