Frattini calls for 'halt to hostilities' in Libya

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini warned today that Nato's credibility was "at risk" following the civilian casualties, and urged it to ensure it was not providing ammunition to Gaddafi's propaganda war.

"We cannot run the risk of killing civilians. This is not good at all," Frattini said during a meeting of European foreign ministers.

Frattini followed up his comments in a speech to Italian parliament in Rome this morning.

"With regard to Nato, it is fair to ask for increasingly detailed information on results as well as precise guidelines on the dramatic errors involving civilians," he said.

The blunder – an embarrassment for a mission that prides itself on protecting Libyans from the regime – came on the heels of a friendly fire incident last week in which a column of rebel vehicles was hit by Nato warplanes.

"If you look at our track record, we have taken utmost care to avoid civilian casualties and we will continue to do so," said Nato spokesman Oana Lungescu.

In his address to parliament Frattini also called for "an immediate humanitarian suspension of hostilities" in Libya so that humanitarian aid could be delivered to the population.

Wing Commander Mike Bracken, the Nato mission's military spokesman, said that the organisation's "reputation and credibility is unquestionable".

"What is questionable is the Gaddafi regime's use of human shields, (and) firing missiles from mosques".

The comments came after Nato admitted a bomb misfired in Tripoli at the weekend, killing nine people according to Moamer Gaddafi's regime.

In Beijing, Yang Jiechi, the Chinese foreign minister, hailed the rebels' NTC as "an important domestic political force."

Since it was established, he said, the council's "representative nature has increased daily and it has gradually become an important domestic political force."

Beijing consistently opposes moves deemed to interfere in the affairs of other countries.

But it has held a number of meetings with Libyan rebels in recent weeks in an apparent sign that it wants to help bring about a resolution of the conflict in the oil-rich north African state, where it has sizeable economic interests.