Some British MPs uneasy about seeking regime change in Libya

Three Conservative MPs have said that Parliament should be recalled from Easter recess because Prime Minister David Cameron’s strategy in Libya is clearly designed to remove Moammar Gaddafi from power, which is not what the original intent was for the Libyan campaign, they claim.

Earlier, Cameron, along with French President Nicholas Sarkozy and US President Barack Obama, jointly signed a letter which clearly called for the toppling of Gaddafi as a condition of peace in Libya.

David Davis, the former shadow home secretary, John Baron and Peter Bone want MPs to return to Westminster to talk about the changing campaign in Libya, which they say was supposed to be humanitarian exercise to protect civilians in the war-torn country.

Baron, who represents Basildon and Billericay, said there is now a significant shift in the alliance’s strategy.

Baron, the only Conservative MP to vote against military intervention in Libya last month, told BBC: The mission has fundamentally changed. We are now talking about regime change, which is illegal under international law. We need to discuss it as a Parliament.

Similarly, Davis, who represents the Haltemprice and Howden constituency, said Parliament did not authorize the next phase of this [Libyan campaign].”

Davis told BBC radio: Whilst I approve of the next phase - I think it's necessary, I think it's probably unavoidable, and I think Cameron has done the right thing at every step so far - to go to the next phase he has to get Parliamentary authority.

Also, Bone, a backbencher for Wellingborough and Rushden, noted: I'm not taking a view on the arguments. I'm saying I want to hear the arguments and want Parliament to take a view on it.

The recall move was also supported by Labour MPs David Winnick and Jeremy Corbyn, who said NATO had no interest in a political solution in Libya.

''I think the situation is such that the Commons should have a statement before we're due to go back and I think it would be appropriate if we were recalled early next week,'' said Winnick.

''I think there's growing unease over precisely what the situation is - but particularly how long it's going to last, the stalemate, and where it's leading. It's now very near regime change. However much we despise the murderous Gaddafi clan, and that includes his sons as well as the father, the fact remains that it's not currently possible under international law for regime change to take place.''

However, Conservative MP Richard Ottaway, who serves as chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, told the BBC: I think the letter today... doesn't actually take things any further. It is, in truth, a reiteration of the original position set out a month ago... This is a humanitarian mission and it is protection of the civilian population which is top of the order book and, I think, has not altered. We should only be recalling Parliament if there is a change in policy.

British MP’s had overwhelmingly supported the intervention when the vote was taken on March 21 -- 557 in favor of enforcing UN resolutions in Libya, only 13 opposed.

Moreover, sources with Cameron have denied there was any shift in policy and a recall of Parliament was unnecessary.

Parliament is not due to reconvene until April 26.