Gaddafi was stubborn,his removal necessary for peace in Libya: Juppe

“Remember,six months ago Gaddafi had threatened the entire population of Benghazi with a massacre. It was absolutely necessary to stop this threat,” Juppe said.

“We would have preferred to capture him and try him at the International Criminal Court or some Libyan court,but he was so stubborn,he refused.”

Juppe said France did not view its role in Libya as “Western intervention”.

“It’s not western intervention; it’s a mandate under the United Nations Security Council,as you know on the basis of a 1973 resolution.”

He maintained that France’s role in Libya did not end with the killing of Gaddafi,who had ruled for 42 years.

“A new era for Libya has started. France will be there to help in the rebuilding of Libya.”

The challenge before the Libyan people and the Transitional National Council now,he said,was “to make an inclusive government with a roadmap for a new constitution and new election”.

On the issue of Pakistan’s continued patronage to terror groups,Juppe said France was “concerned about the domestic political situation in Pakistan”. “We urge Pakistan to not accept terrorism on its soil,” he said.

On United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s statement urging Pakistan to act against the Haqqani network,Juppe said,“I think she (Clinton) has a very clear message for Pakistani authorities,and that is to react against the tendency to protect some groups.”

Juppe described terrorism as a common threat for India,France,Afghanistan and others,and said that France plans to propose a collective security organisation between Afghanistan,India,Pakistan and others.