Biden tries to shore up Arab support for Libya strikes

As the international coalition pounded forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi for the second day, Vice President Joe Biden made calls to two member states of the Arab League to reaffirm support from the critical group.

The White House said Sunday that Biden made calls to Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad of Kuwait "as part of the ongoing consultations on the coalition action to fulfill United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973."

The White House said the vice president "discussed with both the prime minister and the emir their mutual support for the full implementation of the resolution and the need to protect the Libyan people."

The vice president's calls come after a reported rebuke of coalition actions by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

According to The Washington Post, Moussa said he would convene a league meeting to revisit the endorsement of American and European intervention in Libya, saying the scope of the bombing had exceeded the no-fly zone which they approved.

The White House has sought from the beginning to ensure that the intervention is viewed as a true international effort that includes Arab support for fear of being seen as invading or attacking another Muslim country.