---

UN Security Council Resolution (Libya)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. What the UN is suggesting is very clear. Paragraph 1"““Demands the immediate establishment of a cease-fire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians””." Paragraph 2"““Stresses the need to intensify efforts to find a solution to the crisis which responds to the legitimate demands of the Libyan people””." The point that I would make to the hon. Gentleman is this: if we make this statement and give this ultimatum, and in a way, the UN has given this ultimatum; if Gaddafi does not respond and goes on brutalising his people; and if in those circumstances we say that we are not prepared to use force to protect civilians, with all the backing of the UN, with all the backing of international law, with the Arab League behind us and with the world saying that this is right—if not then, when? The hon. Gentleman does need to think about this, because although there should, of course, be all sorts of things holding you back before you take action, and there are all the questions you should ask, when there is this degree of international backing, and if Gaddafi will not stop the brutalising of civilians, there is a complete legitimisation of taking action to protect those civilians.