Cameron and Sarkozy lay down price of ending Libya operations

Prime Minister David Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy released a joint statement setting out the objectives of an international conference on Libya being held in London today.

The regime has “completely lost its legitimacy” and Colonel Muammar Gaddafi must “go immediately”, the statement said. It called on the dictator’s supporters to “leave him before it is too late”.

The two leaders stressed they did not envisage any military occupation of Libya and that the North African state’s political future must be determined by the Libyan people themselves.

Today’s conference will bring together around 40 delegations including all members of the coalition involved in the military operation, as well as the United Nations, Nato, the African Union and the Arab League. Arab countries Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates will also be there.

The joint statement said the conference would “bring the international community together to support Libya’s transition from violent dictatorship and help create the conditions where the people of Libya can choose their own future”.

It added: “We call on all Libyans who believe that Gaddafi is leading Libya into a disaster to take the initiative now to organise a transition process.

“In our view, this could include the Interim National Transitional Council, the pioneering role of which we recognise, the civil society leaders as well as all those prepared to join the process of transition to democracy. We encourage them to begin a national political dialogue, leading to a representative process of transition, constitutional reform and preparation for free and fair elections.”