Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Hague: Gaddafi regime 'weakening'

Pa
Sunday 12 June 2011 11:59 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Foreign Secretary William Hague today insisted that Muammar Gaddafi's regime was "weakening all the time" in the face of Nato's military campaign.

But he warned it was "impossible to say" how long it would take to unseat the dictator.

Mr Hague also said his preference was for Gaddafi to be charged with crimes against humanity, rather than killed in an airstrike or exiled.

Interviewed on Sky News' Murnaghan programme, Mr Hague said: "Time is on our side, not on his side. The position of the Gaddafi regime is weakening all the time.

"They have been losing important battles ...

"We have to have the patience and persistence to see this through to success, and remember that the time pressure is on the other side, on the Gaddafi regime."

He added: "We will have the staying power to implement the UN resolution and see this through to success."

Asked whether he would prefer Gaddafi to be killed, surrender, or go into "negotiated exile", Mr Hague replied: "Clearly we would like to see him answer charges before the international criminal court, so if I had to choose one of your options that is what i would like to see.

"But if he escaped to some place that was not party to the international criminal court we would not necessarily be able to prevent that."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in