While U.S. President Barack Obama was on his Latin American tour and the Pentagon gave vague comments about its future plans for Libya, French and British diplomats took the lead in discussions on possible military intervention in Libya.
But even before the multinational military strike was launched against the African state last Saturday, Paris clearly demonstrated its ambitions to end Muammar Gaddafi's long-time rule.
France was the first country to formally recognize the rebel Libyan National Council as the country's only legitimate governing body on March 10. On the same day, French President Nicholas Sarkozy also met with the opposition leaders in the Elysee Palace.
