Global leaders meet to affirm unity of purpose in Libya; US officials warn rebels lack organisation to hold gains; Radioactive water puts Japan on "maximum alert"; Over 120 dead in Yemen explosion; How sound are Chinese loans?; and more

Top of the Agenda: World Leaders to Discuss Libya's Future

Foreign ministers from roughly forty nations will convene in London to discuss possibilities for Libya's long-term political future if Muammar al-Qaddafi leaves power. The meeting is scheduled on the heels of US President Barack Obama's address (FT) on Monday evening, in which he laid out his rationale for military intervention and defended the strategy of limited engagement over regime change. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Mahmoud Jibril (al-Jazeera), a leading member of the Libyan opposition, ahead of her discussion with international counterparts. Analysts expect ministers to confer on a number of topics, including proposals for a ceasefire, exile for Qaddafi, and structuring talks between opposition members.

Fighters loyal to the regime renewed attacks on rebels, repelling them from Sirte and forcing them to retreat to the town of Bin Jawad. Rebels have been able to make rapid advances in recent days due to coalition air support (BBC), but US officials say that any gains would be fragile due to a lack of rebel organization. Analysts say the battle for Sirte questions whether the coalition could justify air strikes (NYT) if loyalist forces enjoy general support in the city and pose no threat to civilians. Obama says that NATO will take command (AFP) of all coalition military operations in Libya on Wednesday.

Analysis:

In Time, Michael Crowley writes Obama's speech clearly articulated his grand doctrine on the use of US power, but fell short in detailing the mission in Libya.

Though Obama is on solid legal ground in the Libya intervention, congressional support for it could erode if operations continue for months, says CFR's Matthew Waxman.

In this opinion piece for al-Jazeera, Tarak Barkawi writes the West has used euphemisms to deny a state of war against Qaddafi under the guise of a humanitarian mission.

In the Financial Times, CFR President Richard N. Haass examines the bleak lessons that history has to offer on the future of Libya.

Background:

Read President Obama's speech on Libya on March 28, 2011.

The UN Security Council resolution regarding Libya was passed on March 17, 2011.

Multimedia:

In this video from the Wall Street Journal, columnist John Fund breaks down the Libya budget math and discusses Washington's showdown over spending.

 

PACIFIC RIM: Japan on 'Maximum Alert' After Reactor Leak

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said his government is operating in a state of "maximum alert" following the discovery of highly radioactive water (SMH) leaking from the containment system at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Plant operator TEPCO was denounced by the government for reporting erroneous levels of radiation in prior measurements.

On his Energy, Security, and Climate blog, CFR's Michael Levi writes on: "How Not to Debate Nuclear Power."

China: Officials of China's largest bank said $98 billion worth of loans made to local governments in the post-crisis credit boom (FT) do not pose a risk to the national banking system. Observers were concerned that the practice could lead to a spike in the number of non-performing loans.

 

ELSEWHERE:

- Factory Explosion Kills Scores in Yemen
- Pakistan to Permit Mumbai Attack Investigators

 

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org