South Africa's President Jacob Zuma on Thursday slammed the UN Security Council for allowing the NATO military strikes in Libya that played a key downfall in the downfall of Moamer Kadhafi.
Zuma complained to the Security Council that an African Union peace plan for Libya was "completely ignored" and said Libya's problems had now "spilled over" to other countries in north Africa because of the council's action.
The South African president lectured the 15-member council as he chaired a special debate on relations between the United Nations and the African Union.
South Africa abstained in the council's resolution 1973 passed on March 17 last year, which authorized military action to protect civilians and enforce a no-fly zone.
NATO's airstrikes have since divided the council, however. Russia, China, South Africa and India insist that the military alliance breached the resolution.
Zuma said the council had to avoid a repeat of the Libya episode when the AU had its own political initiative, which the president said was "completely ignored in favor of bombing Libya by NATO forces."
"The consequences of the actions that were carried out in Libya in the name of the United Nations Security Council have spilled over into other countries in the region," Zuma told the meeting, which was attended by ministers from Africa and council members.
NATO insists its military action in Libya was within the UN resolutions and UN ambassadors from its members say the Security Council was fully aware of the kind of action to be carried out.
But Zuma said African Union views "must be listened to if we are to strengthen our relationship and prevent conflict."
He also said there must be no return to the Cold War, when Africa was a "playground" for the rival sides battling for influence. - ANP/AFP
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First we have to make corrections to what is written in the article.South Africa VOTED FOR the security council's resolution 1973 passed on March 17 last year, which authorized military action and enforcing a no-fly zone.IT DID NOT ABSTAIN FROM VOTING. Well Mr Zuma,you are a fool of the highest order.You were manipulated by the Western imperialist forces into voting for a no fly zone against Libya and in the process betraying Col Gadhaffi who had assisted ANC in the fight against Apartheid.Libya was destroyed and Gadhaffi was later killed by NATO and their rebels using that resolution. Zuma has the blood of 50000 libyans in his hands and that guilty conscience will haunt him for the rest of his life.Now South Africa has to live with the fact that it played a role in the destruction of Libya.
Normal lip service by one of our puppets.Instead,why didnt those opposed to Libya bombardment kick western embassies out like Iran did?Talking shit is cheap...people are dead,mostly black africans.