Stung by criticism of his tepid response to the crises in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, French president Nicolas Sarkozy today called for sanctions against Libya and suggested all economic ties between the European Union and the Mr Qadhafi’s regime be suspended.
"The continuing brutal and bloody repression against the Libyan civilian population is revolting," Sarkozy said in a statement. "The international community cannot remain a spectator to these massive violations of human rights."
Mr Sarkozy reacted after several opposition leaders including Socialist leader Martine Aubry said French foreign policy under Mr Sarkozy had become one of contracts and business rather than that of principles. A group of French diplomats too, collectively writing under the pseudonym “Marly” in the influential daily Le Monde, issued a stinging critique of Mr Sarkozy’s foreign policy saying the advice of seasoned diplomats had been ignored to the detriment of French influence in the world. “Africa escapes us, the Mediterranean turns away from us, China dominates us while Washington ignores us,” the diplomats, both retired and serving officers wrote.
The red-carpet reception Mr Sarkozy gave Colonel Qadhafi in 2007 who pitched his tent in the very gardens of the Elysee Palace – unheard of before or since – and his wide embrace of the Chinese have come in for severe criticism. Bernard Guettta, a respected commentator, said Mr Sarkozy’s slavish pro-Americanism had cost France the independence it once enjoyed. “But while Washington was quick off the mark in its criticism of the regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya, France sat on the fence, losing credibility and respect,” Mr Guetta said.
However, Mr Sarkozy’s belated calls for sanctions may not materialise. Libya's major customers are European, with Italy importing about 32 percent of its oil from Libya. Germany imports 10 percent, and France and Spain about 8 percent each.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who spoke to Mr Qadhafi over the telephone – the two men are reportedly very close – also saw himself constrained to criticise the Libyan crackdown. However, Libyan analysts allege Italy might be covertly helping the colonel.
EU member states began the evacuation of an estimated 10,000 citizens from Libya as EU bourses continued to tumble in the face of soaring oil prices. Air France alone lost over 3 per cent on the markets today.
Italy has called for a meeting of EU interior ministers to examine the question of refugees flooding into Italy, France, Spain and Greece as a result of a mass exodus from Tunisia and Libya.
Hundreds of anti-Qadhafi demonstrators took to the streets in several European capitals calling for an immediate halt to the Libyan leader’s crackdown against his own people.
