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Summary Ban Ki-moon has consistently called for restraint and caution to avoid civilian casualties.
Libya on Saturday accused UN chief Ban Ki-moon of playing with words after he acknowledged NATO efforts to avoid civilian casualties a day after urging restraint over unacceptably high deaths.The secretary general has consistently called for restraint and caution to avoid civilian casualties. He of course recognises and appreciates NATOs efforts to avoid civilian casualties, UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters on Friday.In a statement released by his office on Thursday, Ban had sounded the alarm over civilian deaths and called for new efforts to find a political solution between Libyas long-time strongman Moamer Gaddafi and opposition rebels.Without specifically naming any side, Ban called on all parties to use extreme caution in the battle.The secretary general is deeply concerned by reports of the unacceptably large number of civilian casualties as a result of the conflict in Libya, said a statement.Ban calls on all parties to exercise extreme caution in their actions, in order to minimise any further loss of civilian life.But Libyas Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaaim told reporters early on Saturday Bans statement was unacceptable for not singling out NATO for being responsible for civilian deaths in Libya.The only party that must be blamed for the loss of civilian lives is NATO, he said.Kaaim on Saturday also denied that the rebels had entered the eastern oil hub of Brega almost six months after rising up against Kadhafis forces, inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia.
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