Europe must step in now

Europe must intervene immediately in Libya, the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung advises, calling on Europe to take two swift steps: "Sanctions will hardly impress Gaddafi. Nevertheless they have an enormous symbolic power and must be implemented straight away. Secondly, Europe must make believable threats. The best would be as part of a coalition with the Arab League, Egypt and the African Union. With a UN mandate, such a coalition could also intervene militarily to re-establish peace. This is possibly the sole threat that could move Gaddafi's remaining followers to turn their backs on the dictator. ... But one thing Europe should by no means do is wait. If Libya sinks into civil and tribal war it can set the entire region ablaze. Europeans have known since the Balkan wars how crucial early intervention is. Back then they missed the chance, a mistake that must not be repeated in North Africa."

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