Political solutions, rather than mere military actions, have increasingly become the right exit out of the deteriorating Libyan crisis.

The United Nations and some regional blocs Thursday stroke a right tone by calling for a political solution to the impasse.

"As the fighting rages, the situation will only get worse and the more distant a political situation. We call for an inclusive political process through which the Libyan people can choose their own future," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday in Cairo.

Ban made the comments after meeting heads of the Arab League, the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Conference as well as European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who all emphasized the importance of a comprehensive political process to solve the Libyan crisis.

The West-dominated airstrikes against Libya starting on March 19, coupled with earlier travel bans and asset freezing, have failed to deliver the results expected by some Western powers which might be quick gains on the ground by the Libyan opposition and the toppling of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his inner circle.

However, facts showed it was only the Western powers' wishful thinking, at least up to now, as there has existed a standoff on the ground between the pro and anti-Gaddafi camps and more divisions are emerging among member countries of NATO, which is command of the air raids.

This is a terrible scenario for the Western coalition, as it fears to be drawn into a prolonged war in the North African country similar to the two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which cost some Western countries an arm and a leg.

Britain and France, which have spearheaded the airstrikes after the United States took a back seat by handing over the command of the mission to NATO on March 31, have increasingly grown frustrated with the lack of support from their allies.

Their clamor for an intensified bombing campaign against Gaddafi's forces was given a cold shoulder at the NATO foreign ministers' meeting held in Berlin Thursday.

The United States in particular, mindful of public weary of the two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been resisting calls for its stronger role in the airstrikes with its precision weapon systems.

Western officials and generals have admitted air power alone apparently can't achieve the stated goals in Libya, while Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that the situation in Libya "has already spun out of control."

The Libya Contact Group's Wednesday meeting in Doha, Qatar, agreed to fund and provide "material support" to the opposition, which has been seeking arms from "friendly" governments despite the arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council in February.

A replenished opposition, which takes the departure of Gaddafi and his inner circle as a prerequisite for a ceasefire, may stir up more ferocious fighting with government forces and result in much more civilian casualties.

This outcome will utterly run counter to the UN resolution on Libya adopted on March 17, which is aimed at protecting civilians.

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