Left parties condemn NATO air strikes on Libya

Demanding a halt on air strikes on Libya by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces, Left parties on Monday termed it as a "dangerous act of aggression" and said India should seek a review of the United Nations resolution allowing such bombings.

In a statement by  Communist Party of India-Marxist polit bureau, the party said "the military strikes by NATO forces comprising of France, Britain and the United States are a dangerous act of aggression.

"The NATO is now repeating what it did in Iraq, which led to deaths of millions of people and large-scale destruction. Forty eight people are already reported dead in the attacks on the first day," it said.

 Despite the rhetoric about protecting the Libyan people, it said this "act of aggression" is a "gross violation" of Libya's sovereignty and a "calculated intervention" in an internal conflict to bring about regime change.

"The hypocrisy of the western powers can be seen in their connivance with the Saudi military intervention to crush the popular and peaceful revolt in Bahrain. The West has no compunction in resorting to force to secure its interests in oil-rich Libya and the Middle East," it said.

The party said the UN Security Council resolution on Libya has been utilised by the NATO for this attack. "The five members of the Security Council, which include India, who abstained on the resolution, should immediately demand a review of the resolution. Until then, there has to be a halt to the military action," it said.

Demanding an immediate halt on bombing, the Communist Party of India strongly condemned it and said the airstrikes formed the most "inhuman acts" of aggression. "Attempts are being made to occupy Libya as was done in Iraq, causing deaths of people and large-scale destruction.

"This heinous act of aggression, in the name of protecting the Libyan people, is a naked intervention in the internal affairs of Libya's sovereignty and a calculated move to install a puppet regime there," it said.