Libyan leader's departure 'inevitable' says defence secretary Liam Fox as psychological and military pressure mounts
Britain has stepped up the psychological and military pressure on Muammar Gaddafi by claiming his departure is inevitable as it prepares to deploy bunker busting bombs, helicopters and to introduce regular daytime air raids on Tripoli.
British military and intelligence think they are close to a tipping point in Libya with Gaddafi unable to run an effective government and increasingly troubled by his diplomatic isolation, including the loss of Russian support last week
It is "inevitable" that Gaddafi will go, Liam Fox, the defence secretary, said.
The coalition government is preparing to use four Apache helicopters to increase pressure on Gaddafi, and the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the RAF will be given 2,000lb enhanced Paveway III bombs, capable of penetrating roofs of reinforced buildings.
Nato said it had conducted daytime air raids on the Libyan capital, Tripoli, for five days running. The towers of Gaddafi's main compound were destroyed at the weekend.
Fox said: "We are not trying to physically target individuals in Gaddafi's inner circle on whom he relies, but we are certainly sending them increasingly loud messages. Gaddafi may not be capable of listening, but those around him would be wise to do so."
The pressure is designed to coincide with a peace visit to Tripoli by the South African president, Jacob Zuma.
Britain has been putting pressure on Zuma and the African Union to send Gaddafi an unequivocal message to stand down, but the African Union has so far declined and has instead concentrated on proposing a ceasefire, in which the west and the rebels based in Benghazi have shown little confidence.
South Africa will be aware that not siding with the rebels could be a major diplomatic error, some British sources suggested.
Few are expecting Zuma's visit to lead to a big breakthrough, which in part explains David Cameron's decision to take a brief holiday.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the Paveway bombs, which are the largest in the RAF's arsenal, have been dispatched to Gioia del Colle in southern Italy where RAF Tornado and Typhoon jets are based.
While the Apache's cannon and Hellfire missiles are used against small or moving targets, the heavy Paveway bombs are expected to be used against bunkers beneath Gaddafi's Bab al-Azizia compound in Tripoli and elsewhere.
The MoD said on Sunday that the enhanced Paveway III bombs are designed "to punch through the roof or wall of a hardened building".
The bombs join smaller laser or satellite-guided Paveway bombs, Brimstone missiles, and Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles, with which the army and navy have been attacking targets in Libya for more than two months.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Fox said: "We're trying to degrade his [Gaddafi's] ability to control his armed forces and those who are repressing the civilian population."
He added it was inevitable that Gaddafi would go.
Fox accepted that using helicopters constituted an increased risk for British airmen, saying: "It is quite right that if we use attack helicopters there is an increased risk. They fly at far lower heights than the fast jets would, obviously at lower speeds than the fast jets would."
He insisted it was legitimate for the UK to target Gaddafi's compounds, saying: "There are a lot of facilities which are being used partly as accommodation but also largely for military control. And we will continue to degrade that."
He welcomed the results of the G8 summit last week as revealing complete international unanimity, including from Russia, that Gaddafi must go.
It was reported that the former British defence minister Lord Trefgarne had met with the Libyan foreign minister over the weekend, but the Foreign Office emphasised that he was not acting as a diplomatic intermediary. He is vice chairman of the Arab-British chamber of commerce.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/29/muammar-gaddafi-mind-games
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