NATO must intensify strikes, Gaddafi needs to go: Britain

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British Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged NATO allies to intensify military operations against the Libyan regime and called on Muammar Gaddafi to step down.

"We must maintain and intensify our efforts in NATO, that is why the United Kingdom has in the last week supplied additional aircraft capable of striking ground targets threatening the civilian population of Libya," Hague said.

"Of course it would be welcome if other countries also do the same," he told reporters as he arrived in Luxembourg for a meeting of European Union foreign ministers.

"There is always more to do."

Thousands of lives have been saved in Libya thanks to air strikes that were launched by Western powers on March 19, preventing Gaddafi's forces from storming the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi three weeks ago, Hague said.

"A huge amount has been achieved in Libya but clearly there is more to be done," he said.

He added: "Of course, to have any viable, peaceful future for Libya, Colonel Gaddafi needs to leave."