France's president Nicolas Sarkozy (L) shakes hand with Qatar Foreign Affairs Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani (R) as he arrives on March 19, 2011, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, before a summit on implementing the UN Security Council resolution 1973 authorising military action in Libya, to be attended by representatives of the European Union, the Arab League, the African Union, the UN and other leaders. – AFP Photo

DOHA: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani on Sunday defended his country's participation in military operations in Libya, saying the aim was to “stop the bloodbath.”

An international coalition began strikes in Libya with combat jets and cruise missiles on Saturday, aiming to stop Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi from suppressing a revolt launched on February 15 against his rule.

“Qatar is participating in the military action because it is necessary for Arab states to take part,” Sheikh Hamad, who is also foreign minister, told Al-Jazeera satellite channel.

“The situation is untenable in Libya... this is not a confrontation between protesters and police forces; it is an open war in which mercenaries are participating, and this must stop as soon as possible,” Sheikh Hamad said.

However, he also said the operation “is not directed against the Libyan people, nor against the colonel (Kadhafi) and his sons. The important thing is to stop the bloodbath.”

Qatar is the only Arab state to have promised Saturday at an emergency meeting in Paris to participate in military operations in Libya.

A United Nations diplomat said the United Arab Emirates would also participate, but this has not been confirmed.

The United States has stressed the importance of Arab participation in the international effort.