>> in light of the military action in libya this week and, we will show you david cameron's announcement on friday that british fighter jets will help enforce the no-fly zone in libya. opposition leader ed miller band and others ask questions about the african union and humanitarian efforts in libya. >> a statement from the prime minister. mr. speaker, over three weeks ago, the people took to the streets in protest against colonel gaddafi and his regime, asking for new rights and freedoms. there were hopeful times that a better future awaited them, and my people elsewhere, they were taking their destiny into their own hands. mr. speaker, far from meeting

those, he has responded by attacking his own people. on the 23rd february the un secretary general cited the reported nature and scale of attacks on civilians as "egregious violations of international and human rights law" and called on the government of libya to "meet its responsibility to protect its people." he later said that more than 1,000 people had been killed and many more injured in libya amidst credible and consistent reports of arrests, detention, and torture. over the weekend of 26t and 27 february, at britain's instigation, the un security council agreed resolution 1970. this condemned gaddafi's actions. it imposed a travel ban and assets freeze on those at the top of his regime.

it demanded an end to the violence, access for international human rights monitors and the lifting of restrictions on the media. and it referred the situation in libya to the international criminal court, so its leaders should face the justice they deserve. mr. speaker, in my statement to this house on 28th february, i set out the steps that we would take to implement these measures. our consistent approach has been to isolate the gaddafi regime, deprive it of money, shrink its power and ensure that anyone responsible for abuses in libya will be held to account. i also told this house i believed contingency planning should be done for different scenarios including involving military assets, and that this should include plans for a no fly zone. mr. speaker, intervening in another country's affairs should not be undertaken save in quite exceptional circumstances. that is why we've always been clear that preparing for eventualities which might include the use of force, including a no fly zone or

other measures to stop humanitarian catastrophe, would require three tests to be met. demonstrable need. regional support. and a clear legal basis. first, demonstrable need. gaddafi's regime has ignored the demand of the un security council in resolution 1970, that it stop the violence against the libyan people. his forces have attacked peaceful protesters, and are now preparing for a violent assault on a city of a million people that has a history dating back 2,500 years. benghazi. they have begun airstrikes in anticipation of what we expect to be a brutal attack using air, land and sea forces. gaddafi has publicly promised that every home will be searched and that there will be no mercy and no pity shown. if we want any sense of what that might mean we only have to look at what happened in zawiyah where tanks and heavy weaponry were used to smash through a heavily populated town with

heavy loss of life. and we don't have to guess what happens when he has subdued a population. human rights watch have catalogued the appalling human rights abuses that are being committed in tripoli. now the people of eastern libya are faced with the same treatment. mr. speaker, that is the demonstrable need. >> hear, hear. >> second, regional support. there must be a clear wish from the people of libya and the wider region for international action. through the transitional first to call for protection from air attack through a no fly zone. more recently, the arab league have made the same demand. mr. speaker, it really has been remarkable how arab leaders have come forward and condemned the actions of gaddafi's government. in recent days i have spoken arabia, qatar, the united arab emirates and jordan. and a number of arab nations have made clear that they are willing to participate themselves in enforcing the resolution.

this support for this goes far beyond the arab world. last night all three african members of the un security council voted in favor of the resolution. mr. speaker, the third and essential condition was that there should be a clear legal base. that is why along with france, lebanon and the united states we worked hard to draft appropriate language which could command the support of the international community. last night the united nations security council agreed that resolution. immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians." it establishes "a ban on all flights" in the airspace of the -- of libya in order to help protect civilians" and authorizes member states to take "all necessary measures to enforce compliance with the ban." crucially, it says this in

paragraph four. it also "authorizes member states, acting nationally or through regional organizations and or arrangements, and acting in co-operation with the secretary general, to take all necessary measures, to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack, including benghazi." mr. speaker, the resolution both authorizes and sets the limits of our action. specifically, it excludes an occupation force of any form, on any part of libyan territory, which was a clear agreement between all the sponsors of the resolution, including the uk, and of course, also the arab league. i absolutely believe this is the right thing both to say and to do. >> hear, hear. >> as our ambassador to the united nations said, the central purpose of this resolution is to end the violence, protect civilians, and allow the people of libya to determine their own future, free from the brutality unleashed by the gaddafi regime. the libyan population wants the same rights and freedoms that people across the middle east

and north africa are demanding, and that are enshrined in the values of the united nations charter. resolution 1973 puts the weight behind the libyan people in defense of those values. and our aims are entirely encapsulated by that resolution. mr. speaker, demonstrable need, regional support and a clear legal base: the three criteria are now satisfied in full. now that the un security council has reached its decision there is a responsibility on its members to respond. and that is what britain, with others, will now do. mr. speaker, the attorney general has been consulted and the government is satisfied that there is a clear and unequivocal legal basis for the deployment of uk forces and military assets. he advised the cabinet this morning, and his advice was read and discussed. the security council has adopted resolution 1973 as a measure to maintain or restore international peace and security under chapter vii of the united nations charter. the resolution specifically authorizes notifying member

states to use all necessary measures to enforce a no fly zone and to protect civilians and civilian populated areas, including benghazi. the cabinet has met this morning. they have agreed that the uk will play its part. our forces will join an international operation to enforce the resolution if gaddafi fails to comply with its demand that he ends attacks on civilians. the defense secretary and i have now instructed the chief of the defense staff to work urgently with our allies to put in place the appropriate military measures to enforce the resolution including a no fly zone. and i can tell the house that britain will deploy tornadoes and typhoons as well as air-to- air refueling and surveillance aircraft. preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action. the government will table a substantive motion for debatebut i am sure that the house will accept that the situation requires us to move forward on the basis of the security council resolution immediately.

i am sure that all sides of the house call upon colonel gaddafi to respond immediately to the will of the international community and cease the violence against his own people. i spoke to president obama last night and to president sarkozy this morning. there will be a clear statement later today setting out what we now expect from colonel gaddafi. we should never, mr. speaker, prepared to deploy a force is without careful thought. we have, in this case, given extremely careful thought to the situation that we have not had. i think it is absolutely right to play a leading role on the u.n. security council to secure action, and i believe it is exactly right, and i worked with allies to make sure that is brought about. i know there will be many people in our country who now want questions answered about what we are doing and how we will go about it, and we will answer all of those questions in the hours

and weeks ahead, and to work to make sure we do the right thing for the people of libya, the people of our country, and the world as a whole. cough -- >> hear, hear. >> mr. miller band. >> can i say that we welcome the security council resolution and support the u.k. playing its full part? the international community has shown clear resolve with what has happened. since the statement 2.5 weeks ago, we support action to help the libyan people. we support the government and answer the necessary questions that we think the country will want asked. it is important the british people are clear about the purposes of this resolution and the basis of commitment of british forces.

any decision to commit to british armed forces is a grave and serious one and must be based on a clear and compelling case. in this case, it is based, as the prime minister said, on the clear evidence of gaddafi brutalizing its own people in response to demands for democratic change. it is action that most important by the clear resolution of the arab league and now by a legal mandate from the united nations. so the military action that is being embarked upon has broad support and legal base and recognizes our responsibility to protect the libyan people. these are necessary preconditions for a legitimate and effective action, and it will be quite wrong, given what is happening in libya, to stand here and do nothing. it's in questions about the objectives of the mission and humanitarian contacts. first, we need to be clear about the purpose of this mission.

to avoid the slaughter of the people in been causing -- benghazi. can the prime minister assure us that this can be taken on a timely scale that can make a real difference to the people in benghazi? the future a libya remains uncertain. can the prime minister explain the role for the libyan future, should we succeed in stopping it advance?s the specific protection of the libyan people rather than specifically towards regime change. there is agreement that libya's future will be better without him in power. does the prime minister therefore agree that others should be brought to bear on the libyan regime to support the efforts of the libyan people in order to undermine the support

of colonel gaddafi? this is including reaction from the icc. and making explicit the risks of countries allowing its citizens -- i believe the u.n. resolution does recognize that point. and we should continue to make clear to the libyan people about the offer of a better life lays beyond gaddafi. can i also assure that this be taken at the earliest and continuing basis for contingency planning for a stable and viable state beyond gaddafi? can i also in the broader context of the region emphasize to him that we continue to show the utmost vigilance about developments elsewhere, including in bahrain, and that we make clear the need for reform and restraint, not oppression around the region. second, let me ask about the

military action itself. can the prime minister assure us that this reflects the broad base of support, including from the arab league? does he agree that that will continue to need diplomatic efforts to ensure that happens? can i further ask him under the contingencies and are prepared and subject, how does he imagined it operating? third, let me ask about the humanitarian situation in libya. can i ask him to update the house on the continuing situation of british nationals in light of the clearly changed circumstances that we're now facing? and we all noted with concern the decision of the red cross to withdraw from bengazi. -- benghazi? what about the return of

humanitarian assistance -- assistance? we will give our full support to our armed forces. once again, they are engaging in dangerous and courageous acts on behalf of our country. we salute their professionalism and bravery. they are to uphold the will of the international community, including the united nations, and in that service, i believe they will have the support of the whole house. >> hear, her. -- hear.

we have to do this in a time where this is effective. we need a transition towards a more open society and towards a better democracy. but we have to be clear about our aim. it the u.n. security resolution it is absolutely clear about saving lives and protecting people. it is not about choosing the government of libya. that is an issue for the libyan people. this is included in the u.n. security council resolution. this point but the international criminal court was covered by an earlier resolution. in terms of consultation with the arab league and countries, there will be a meeting tomorrow, which president sarkozy has called. there are representatives from across the arab world.

he mentioned above rain. this is permanently under review and meeting regularly to make sure we're doing everything we can to help people as necessary. in terms of the arab league, what we seek is the active participation from some. i believe we will get that from the calls that i have made. i have gotten some reassurances. to be clear, to begin with, this is a joint operation. carried out by britain, america, and france, with arab and other participation and coordinated in that way. in terms of british nationals, obviously, all of those who want to leave have left. there are still some. we have a relationship with the turkish embassy, who are working with us and for us in tripoli,

and we also have an active consular figure in benghazi. stopping gaddafi from going to bend gosling -- benghazi is in their interests. as he said, the decision to put our men and women into harm's way should only be taken when necessary. we cannot stand back and let a dictator kill his people indiscriminately. to do so would send a chilling signal to others, and that also believe we should be clear about where our interests lie. in this country, particularly, we know what abu dhabi is capable of. we cannot have a failed state on the border.

>> malcom. >> may i congratulate him for his superb leadership that he and the foreign secretary have given it and at the united nations for securing this resolution, without which the people of libya and benghazi would be facing a humanitarian disaster. this refers to all necessary measures to protect civilian populated areas. will you confirm that will enable our forces to be used not simply to intercept libyan aircraft but as necessary to attack artillery, tanks, and units on the ground that might be threatening civilian- populated areas? >> well, i think you write for a gentleman for his support and agree that time is now crucial. we have got this u.n. security council resolution, and we made very clear that we secure that

cease-fire, we secure the stop of operations. with the questions he asks about what the security council permitted us to do, it talks about in paragraph for all necessary measures to protect people and, indeed, mentions specifically benghazi, and the attorney general's words, which we can go into earlier, that is very, very important. >> can i congratulate the prime minister and those in the foreign office included diplomats with united nations on the work that they have done with the chapter 7 resolution? the french government gets a lot of credit, as well, because they also moved on this. there is the role that is referred to in the resolution as

the african union. is there any possibility of the african states, including south africa, also included in this? to try to find a way to get gaddafi out of power, as this conflict has been going on for a very long time. >> he makes an extremely good point about the leadership of nicolas sarkozy and the french, what they have done in this role. i think what they did together, the french, the british, and the lebanese, it has been absolutely vital. they have done a superb job at getting people to support. when they read this, it is a very strong resolution and extremely comprehensive. this is a positive start to what the u.n. can achieve.

>> one of adopting thomases, can i congratulate him on this leadership and offer him my support? what is a remarkable diplomatic success, marking the turning quite in the u.n.. right now, it is incumbent on all of us a and particularly our airmen who have to implement this resolution. >> we are embarked on a course. this is not about an army of occupation.

this is a correct limit. i very much echo what he says. but above all, our thoughts, and i am sure everyone in our country, with the families who will be preparing potential for difficult things ahead. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the government and the armed forces have our support in this matter. as was mentioned, the criteria for determining intervention, surely there is another factor, and that is whether we have the capacity for the military to intervene in such conditions. in light of the situation in the middle east, does the prime minister and his colleagues, have they had a look at the continuing assets in the future? >> well, of course, and look very carefully at every decision we make in this sense, and i see it as a personal priority for me as prime minister, but what i

will say to you yet at the end of this, we have the fourth largest defense budget anywhere in the world. many of the decisions we took were to make sure they have flexibility, the ability to act, special forces, and also the point of is making that we're potentially looking at using forces that are not in any way needed in afghanistan, for planning what may be necessary. the efforts that we're making in afghanistan with our allies. >> yet again, my right honorable friend had shown a great deal of courage and leadership, and i support both what he has said and what he has done. is it agreed that while regime change is not the aim of this resolution, there is little

korea was the chance of achieving these resolutions without having a regime change? >> i think my honorable friend put it extremely well. there is a cessation of hostilities for the protection of lives, protection of people, o -- io -- in bengazi, -- benghazi, the freezing of assets. it is almost impossible to see another situation. those are our goals. these are things that the rest

of the world is helping with. >> oppression of civilians are not unique to civilians. is the prime minister now suggesting that we develop a foreign policy to be prepared to do this elsewhere where there are attacks on civilians, such as saudi arabia or bahrain? we may well be involved in a civil war in libya for some time to come. >> i do sometimes want to meet this argument with the expression that simply gives you cannot do the right thing everywhere doesn't mean you should not do the right thing somewhere. >> hear, hear. >> the situation in libya is different. you had the people rising up, and then watching as potentially those people are destroyed by their dictator.

what we see is britain acting with others in favor of international government, the u.n., and all that is right, fair, and decent, and yet, at the same time, i believe very much acting in our national interests. on the southern banks of europe. i hope that not just across the world but elsewhere we should be able to build the broadest coalition of support for the action we are taking. also, recognizes the hardheaded assessment. >> i think it is absolutely right that the international community takes action. can the prime minister assure me that they're doing all they

can to monitor the activity and communication between senior leaders and commanders to the fullest extent of the law? >> obviously, he knows that we do not comment on security matters in this house. making sure we are clear that the arm of international law should have a long arm and that we should gather evidence. >> natasha engle. >> given that all actions have consequences, how can you be sure that what we're doing will not actually have a consequence to actually end up in a situation where a situation is actually made worse? >> the honorable lady asks a very important question, and we

have the choice of doing nothing, with the oppression of these people that we can see so clearly, and then we have to ask what are the consequences of action. you have got arab league countries and arab populations why believe are leading the international community on. it is good that the international community is coming together. not just for security. i think you can win that argument. arab populations, making sure it very strongly that we're doing the right thing. >> manager the others in congratulating the prime minister and all of those involved in securing this very tough resolution and the building of a broad-based coalition against gaddafi? but will the prime minister agree with me that will be important in the w t