TheCable

A damning report by parliament’s foreign affairs committee has blamed former Prime Minister David Cameron for Britain’s 2011 military intervention in Libya ordered by.

The report said Britain’s reliance on flawed intelligence hastened the North African country’s political and economic collapse.

Britain and France led international efforts to help oust Libya’s then-leader Muammar Gaddafi in early 2011, using fighter jets to beat back Gaddafi’s armies and allow rebels to topple the long-time dictator.

But Libya has since suffered years of chaos.

Islamic State has gained a foothold, former rebels still fight over territory and people smugglers have set up a huge operation, sending tens of thousands on the perilous sea journey to Europe.

Cameron, who ran Britain from 2010 until July, had a “decisive” role in the decision to intervene and “must bear the responsibility for Britain’s role in the crisis in Libya”.

“The UK’s actions in Libya were part of an ill-conceived intervention, the results of which are still playing out today,’’ said committee chairman Crispin Blunt, a member of Cameron’s Conservative party.

Blunt said UK policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country and the situation.

The committee’s statement said the “ultimate responsibility rests with David Cameron’s leadership”.

Earlier this year, US President Barack Obama said European allies had become distracted from the Libyan crisis after the intervention.

Obama’s office later said he had not intended to be critical of Cameron.

Cameron stepped down as prime minister after losing a referendum to keep Britain in the EU, and on Monday resigned as a member of parliament, saying he did not want to become a distraction for Theresa May, his successor.