Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert told a news conference German forces would be available for a European Union humanitarian mission. The opposition Social Democrats (SPD) accused the government of making a U-turn on Libya.
“Germany has said it would not take part in combat operations in Libya,” Seibert said, rejecting the criticism. “What we’re talking about now is something that is completely different.”
Defense Ministry spokesman Christian Dienst said, however, that if Germany did take part in the EU mission “it’s clear that German troops would then have their boots on the ground in Libya.”
Merkel’s government has been attacked from inside Germany and from its allies since it broke ranks with the United States, France and Britain, joining China, Russia, India and Brazil in abstaining on the UN vote authorizing the use of force to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya and protect civilians.
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has said the crisis in Libya cannot be solved militarily and that Arab League criticism of the air strikes had vindicated Germany’s position.
The EU may start a military-backed humanitarian operation with the aim of supplying food, shelter and other needs to refugee camps on the Tunisian and Egyptian borders. The EU has said the mission will be launched if requested by the UN.
