Italy urges Libya humanitarian truce

22 June 2011 Last updated at 11:36 GMT The Libyan government is continuing to bomb the rebel-held town of Misrata Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has called for a suspension of hostilities in Libya to allow humanitarian aid to be brought to the war-torn country.

Mr Frattini also said Nato must provide data on results of its bombing campaign and guidelines on targeting errors.

Arab League Chairman Amr Moussa also urged a ceasefire on Tuesday, voicing reservations about the Nato campaign.

On Sunday a Nato missile apparently misfired striking a residential area.

The Libyan government said nine people including two young children were killed in the strike.

The alliance acknowledged that civilian casualties may have resulted from it.

Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi described Libya's opposition National Transitional Council as an "important dialogue partner" and an "important domestic political force".

Rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril has been holding talks with the Chinese leadership in Beijing.

Credibility 'at risk'

Speaking to the lower house of the Italian parliament, Mr Frattini called for "an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities" to allow an aid corridor to be set up.

Continue reading the main story Duncan Kennedy BBC News, Rome

Mr Frattini's comments are important as Italy provides most of the land bases for Nato's bombing missions, the command centre, as well as several aircraft for the strike operations. His views relate to the political impact of civilian casualties and are probably shared, if not expressed so openly, by other Nato members.

But Italy brings other context to this. Ever since the UN-backed bombing campaign started in mid-March, Italy has been a reluctant participant. As the former colonial power, it says it has interests and responsibilities, not shared by others.

And now there's a new pressure, from the junior partner in PM Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, the Northern League. Just this weekend, the league warned Mr Berlusconi that if he wanted its continued support, then he would have to look again at Italy's role in Libya, because of its fears about the mounting costs of the mission and because of that historical legacy.

"With regard to Nato, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on the dramatic errors involving civilians," he added.

But the French foreign ministry said Paris was against any pause.

Such a move "would allow [Libyan leader] Muammar Gaddafi to gain time and reorganise", said spokesman Bernard Valero, quoted by AFP news agency.

"In the end, it would be the civilian population that would suffer from the smallest sign of weakness on our behalf."

On Monday Mr Frattini said Nato's credibility was "at risk" after the residential area strike.

Amr Moussa also cast doubt on Nato's efficacy in an interview for The Guardian newspaper.

"When I see children being killed, I must have misgivings. That's why I warned about the risk of civilian casualties," he told the UK newspaper, adding that the military campaign on its own would not be successful.

"You can't have a decisive ending. Now is the time to do whatever we can to reach a political solution," he said.

An internationally supervised ceasefire was necessary, he added, followed by a transitional period "to reach an understanding about the future of Libya".

African Union Chairman Jean Ping said he believed the West would ultimately accept its ceasefire plan, which paves the way for a transition but makes no mention of Col Gaddafi's departure, the main opposition demand.

"The stalemate is already there. There is no other way," he said, quoted by Reuters news agency.

Wing Cmdr Mike Bracken, the Nato mission's military spokesman, said it was not Nato's credibility that was questionable but "the Gaddafi regime's use of human shields [and] firing missiles from mosques".

Nato's mission - to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians using "all necessary measures" short of a ground invasion - began in March in response to Col Gaddafi's violent response to a popular uprising.

The intervention was mandated by the UN, and led by France, Britain and the US until the end of March, when Nato took over.

Having initially been given 90 days - which would have run out on 27 June - the mission has been extended for a further 90 days.

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Old firm urges bigotry law delay

22 June 2011 Last updated at 21:56 GMT The lord advocate said offensive behaviour would include an aggravating factor Celtic and Rangers football clubs have called on the Scottish government not to rush into legislation to tackle sectarian behaviour.

MSPs are poised to pass the emergency law to increase jail terms for sectarian-related behaviour connected to football.

The Scottish government expects the bill to be law by the end of the month.

Rangers and Celtic both issued statements warning that the laws risked being flawed if rushed.

The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications Bill is expected to be passed in time for the new season in July, despite only being introduced to parliament last week.

The bill - which faces its first vote in parliament later on Thursday - aims to stamp out abusive behaviour from football fans whether they are watching matches in a stadium, in the pub or commenting online.

It would raise the maximum jail term from six months to five years.

A spokesman for Celtic FC said the club had always stood against sectarian and racist behaviour.

Continue reading the main story

Two new offences on football-related behaviour regarded as offensive and threatening.

One deals with disorder around football matches inside the ground, and extends to those travelling to and from stadiums - as well as fans watching games elsewhere, for example in pubs or on big screens outdoors.

The second offence deals with serious threats - including murder - made on the internet.

That would take in posts on sites like Facebook and Twitter, as well as specific websites.

Both offences would become indictable, with a maximum punishment of five years in jail.

The maximum jail term for sectarian hate crimes is currently six months.

Decisions on sentencing in each case are a matter for the courts.

However, he added that the club had only four working days to consider the legislation.

"We have not, therefore, been given anything like sufficient opportunity to scrutinise the legal or practical effects of the proposed legislation or the questions and issues arising," he said.

"Rushed legislation is rarely competent legislation. We believe it is better to have it right rather than rushed, and it is clear that this view is shared widely by many others."

A Rangers spokesman said: "We are concerned that in the desire to see new laws on offensive behaviour in place in time for the new football season, there is a real risk being created that the legislation could be flawed and ultimately not achieve its objectives."

He said it was important for fans to have their say on the bill.

The spokesman said the timescales were "extreme and may be counter-productive".

"We hope as a club these concerns are taken on board and everyone can continue to work together to ensure legislation can be effective and durable," he said.

On Wednesday, two Christian organisations decided to take legal action to try to force the Scottish government to take more time over the legislation.

The Christian Institute and Care for Scotland expressed concerned that the bill would curtail ordinary religious debate, and are hoping the courts will rule the legislation is unlawful.

The Scottish government said it did not regard the legal challenge from the Christian groups as being valid.

The new legislation comes in the wake of several high-profile football-related incidents.

These include trouble at Rangers/Celtic games and the sending of suspected bombs to Celtic manager Neil Lennon and two other high-profile supporters of the club.