Evangelicals fear Libya may become another Iraq

In a statement, the Evangelical Alliance cautioned against the conflict escalating into “another Iraq” with ground troops eventually occupying Libya.

It urged the international coalition to focus its military operations on destroying Colonel Moammar Gaddafi’s ability to wage war on his own people and returning the country to a state of normality.

General Director of the Evangelical Alliance, Steve Clifford, said: “We recognise that there are vastly differing attitudes to war among Christians but war is always regrettable and must be seen as a last resort.

“We also recognise that the UN Security Council resolution of 1973, of which Britain is a signatory, was made to sanction a strict code of military action to restore international peace.

“We ask that the current UN campaign does not go beyond its mandate and that civilian lives are protected in every possible way.”

The Alliance also expresses concerns over the cost of military operations at a time when the UK’s Ministry of Defence budget has been slashed by eight per cent and cuts are being made to other public services.

In a three-minute speech broadcast on state television, Col Gaddafi vowed to fight to the end against the international coalition, which is continuing its bombing campaign to impose a UN-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya.

He described the international coalition’s military action as “a new crusader battle launched by crusader countries on Islam”.

Col Gaddafi said: “Long live Islam everywhere. All Islamic armies must take part in the battle, all free [people] must take part in the battle ... We will be victorious in the end.”

He added: “In the short term, we will beat them. In the long term, we will beat them.”

The intervention has proved divisive, even among coalition members, with the US particularly keen to pass responsibility to Europe.

The scale of the coalition’s attacks on Libyan targets had threatened Arab League support for the intervention, after it questioned whether the bombing campaign went beyond the scope of the UN resolution and was endangering civilians.

After several days of talks, Britain, France and the US have agreed to hand over military command of the no-fly zone to NATO. The plan will be put to the North Atlantic Council today and must be approved by all 28 NATO members.