A special international conference was held in London on March 29 to discuss the situation on Libya and seek a political solution for the troubled country.

Opening the conference, British Prime Minister David Cameron outlined three major goals for the conference, namely, strengthening the commitment to implementing UN Resolution 1973, reaffirming importance of urgent humanitarian aid to Libya and calling for a political process that helps create conditions for the Libyan people to choose their own future.

The conference agreed to deploy an embargo on the Gaddafi institution and take actions to prevent the provision and operations of mercenary troops.

The participants also agreed to forge a wide group to act as a focal point for international thinking on Libya with a close coordination of the UN, the AU, the Arab League (AL), the Islamic Organisation Conference (IOC) and the EU. The first meeting of the group will convene in the earliest time.

The conference came as NATO prepared to fully take over command and control of military operations in Libya from the United States . Sweden agreed to join NATO military activities in Libya and provide eight fighting jets to patrol the no-fly zone.

Over 40 foreign ministers and representatives from key organisations, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Ander Fogh Rasmussen, Chairman of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, attended the conference.

However, the conference did not see the presence of Russia , a permanent member of the UN, which strongly opposed the coalition’s attack on Libya . Not only Russia , several other countries, including China , India and South Africa also joined the international wave against the military campaign in Libya. /.