EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels to discuss Libya

Brussels - Regional organizations, by holding emergency meetings, are ramping up their efforts in finding solutions to end the violence in Libya.

European Union (EU) foreign ministers gather Thursday in Brussels to discuss the Libyan situation and pave the way for an EU summit a day later that is expected to mull tougher measures against Muammar Gaddafi's government and more humanitarian aid to insurgency-torn Libyans.

However, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Wednesday that "everything that goes beyond targeted sanctions must be mandated by the United Nations and must, above all, have the backing of the Arab League."

Also on Thursday, Gulf foreign ministers and NATO defense ministers will respectively meet in Riyadh and Brussels to talk about the Libyan crisis.

The NATO meeting may discuss the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya, which has been strongly demanded by the opposition forces in Libya.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron discussed possible options against the Libyan government, including the setting up of a no-fly zone.

In their phone conversation, the two leaders agreed to "press forward with planning, including at NATO, on the full spectrum of possible responses, including surveillance, humanitarian assistance, enforcement of the arms embargo and a no-fly zone," the White House said.

NATO Chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that NATO stands prepared for all eventualities in Libya, but needs a UN mandate for future operations.

"At NATO we stand prepared for any eventuality. NATO is not looking for reasons to intervene in Libya, but as a defense and security organization we have the necessary plans," Rasmussen said.

He stressed "a future operational role would be pursuant to a UN Security Council mandate."

On Saturday, Arab foreign ministers will gather in Cairo and discuss the Libya impasse.

On Thursday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would meet two envoys from Libya's opposition seeking help against Gaddafi, whose forces are fighting with the rebels.

It would be the first meeting of a head of state with representatives of the Libyan opposition.

Libya is witnessing the largest-ever unrest in the nation for the past four decades, which first broke out on Feb. 16 in the eastern city of Benghazi. Massive protests demanding Gaddafi end his 42-year rule escalated into violent clashes between anti-government protesters and Gaddafi's loyalists.

The worsening humanitarian situation in Libya has aroused attention from the international community.

On Wednesday, Valerie Amos, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, called on all parties to the conflict to ensure protection of all civilians.

"I am deeply concerned about the reportedly indiscriminate nature of fighting, and particularly the use of heavy artillery and aerial bombardments," Amos said in a statement.

The statement said the United Nations is in dialogue with the Libyan government on a humanitarian mission that Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa agreed to on March 6.