Gadhafi forces quiet after jets strike

Uncategorized — By Paul Fitzgerald on March 19, 2011 at 10:51 pm

Top officials from the United States, Europe and the Arab world have launched immediate military action to protect civilians as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s forces attacked the heart of the country’s rebel uprising.

A U.S. warship launched cruise missiles against Libya on Saturday as part of the international effort against leader Mr. Gadhafi, according to U.S. defence officials.

British submarines launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defence targets, officials said, as Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed that British forces are in action over Libya.

The Pentagon says U.S. and British ships and submarines fired 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles at more than 20 targets along the coast.

Saturday’s mission was aimed at clearing the way for imposition of a European-led no-fly zone over the North African country.

Mr. Cameron said that launching a military action against Libya is “necessary, legal and right.”

Libyan state TV claimed the airstrikes hit civilian areas in Tripoli and fuel tanks supplying the besieged city of Misrata and surrounding areas.

Mohammed Ali, a spokesman for the exiled opposition group the Libyan Salvation Front, said the Libyan air force headquarters at the Mateiga air base in eastern Tripoli, and the Aviation Academy in Misrata had been targeted. Neither report could be independently confirmed.

But two residents said the air strikes near the city of Misrata have targeted a military airbase where Muammar Gaddafi’s loyalists are based, denying state TV reports that fuel depots were hit.

“The international forces struck Gadhafi battalions in the air military college, but some of the (government) forces fled shortly before the attack,” resident Abdulbasset told Reuters by phone.

Another resident said he had heard a loud explosion coming from the direction of the airbase.

Thousands of regime supporters, meanwhile, packed into the sprawling Bab al-Aziziya military camp in Tripoli where Mr. Gadhafi lives to protect against attacks.

Mr. Gadhafi said on Saturday he will arm civilians to defend Libya from what he called “colonial, crusader” aggression by Western forces that have launched air strikes against him.

“It is now necessary to open the stores and arm all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honour of Libya,” Gadhafi said in a speech broadcast on state television hours after the strikes began.

“We call on the peoples and citizens of the Arab and Islamic nations, Latin America, Asia and Africa to stand by the heroic Libyan people to confront this aggression, which will only increase the Libyan people’s strength, firmness and unity,” he said.

He also said the Mediterranean and North Africa were now a battleground, and that the interests of countries in the region would be in danger from now on.

Speaking during a visit to Brazil, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is aware of the risks of taking military action but that Gadhafi had given the West no choice. “We cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy,” he said.

He declared once again that the United States will not send ground forces into Libya.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said British planes have entered Libyan airspace.

French air force jets have destroyed some tanks and armoured vehicles during a United-Nations-mandated intervention in Libya, a defence ministry official said on Saturday. “Yes, we have destroyed a number of tanks and armoured vehicles,” the official said, adding that he could not immediately confirm the number.

The first shot in a UN-mandated intervention in Libya was fired by a French aircraft and destroyed a military vehicle at around 12:45 p.m. ET, French defence ministry and army officials said on Saturday.

“A first target was engaged and destroyed,” ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire told reporters.

An armed forces spokesman told the same briefing that the operation to halt Mr. Gadhafi’s advance on rebel forces involved around 20 planes and an area 100 km by 150 km around the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier will leave France for Libya on Sunday, the spokesman added. A central command centre for the operation was still being set up.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after an emergency summit in Paris on Saturday that French warplanes are already targeting Mr. Gadhafi’s forces.

The 22 participants in Saturday’s summit “agreed to put in place all the means necessary, in particular military” to make Mr. Gadhafi respect a United Nations Security Council resolution Thursday demanding a cease-fire, Mr. Sarkozy said.

“It’s a grave decision we’ve had to take,” Mr. Sarkozy said after meeting other leaders in Paris. “Along with our Arab, European and North American partners, France has decided to play its part before history.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was every reason to think Mr. Gadhafi will commit `unspeakable atrocities’ if left unchecked.

Canada endorsed the immediate international military action, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper stressed the need for prompt action from the allies.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Saturday that “extensive” aerial operations would soon start in Libya and Canada would be part of that.

Mr. Harper says Canada is at war to protect innocent Libyan civilians, and that there are no guarantees that the Libyan people or Canadian military personnel sent to help them can avoid getting hurt.

Mr. Harper, speaking to reporters following talks between world powers on a co-ordinated intervention in Libya, said naval actions were also taking place, including a naval blockade.

“The parameters of our mission are clear. They are wide ranging and they do not include on-the-ground action,” Mr. Harper said. “It is our belief that if Mr. Gaddafi loses the capacity to enforce his will through vastly superior armed forces, he simply will not be able to sustain his grip on the country.”

Canadian fighter jets have reached the region and will require two days to prepare for any missions, said Andrew MacDougall, a spokesman for the prime minister.

“Colonel Gaddafi has made this happen. He has lied to the international community. He has promised a ceasefire. He has broken that ceasefire,” British Prime Minister David Cameron told British television reporters after a meeting of international leaders in Paris.

“He continues to brutalise his own people and so the time for action has come. It needs to be urgent, we have to enforce the will of the United Nations and we cannot allow the slaughter of civilians to continue.”

Defence Minister Peter MacKay says the pilots of six Canadian fighter-bombers dispatched to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya are prepared to engage the Libyan air force.

Mr. MacKay says the 140 military personnel — including pilots and air crew — sent to the region are well equipped and well trained, but the mission “isn’t without risk.”

The minister says reports that a warplane was shot down today over the rebel stronghold of Benghazi indicate the Libyan air force is still active and a potential threat to Canada’s CF-18s.

Russia said on Saturday it regretted a decision by Western nations to take military action in Libya.

“Air force units from a host of countries began military actions in Libya on March 19,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said in a statement. “Moscow regrets this military action.”

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez condemned the United States and its European allies for their military intervention in Libya.

Mr. Chavez said in a televised speech that the U.S. and its allies simply want to “seize Libya’s oil.”

He said the United Nations has “infringed on its fundamental principles” by backing the no-fly zone in Libya.

Mr. Harper had arrived in Paris early Saturday morning for the summit after an overnight transatlantic flight from Ottawa, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and General Walt Natynczyk, the chief of the defence staff, for the one-day meeting.

Mr. Sarkozy greeted Mr. Harper at Elysee Palace, where the two men had a bilateral meeting ahead of the broader talks. Mr. Harper was to meet later for a one-on-one with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The French and British leaders have been the strongest proponents of a no-fly zone. U.S. President Barack Obama, who is not attending the Paris talks, has ruled out ground troops, but has said American air and naval forces in the region would take part in military action.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, leaders from the Arab world, Africa and other Western powers have gathered in Paris to discuss possible military action against Mr. Gadhafi’s forces.

The African Union — which counts Libya as a member — was meeting in Nouakchott, Mauritania, and was looking to take on a “mediation” role in the crisis, said a French diplomatic official, on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon were in Paris along with Qatar’s emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and foreign ministers of Jordan, Moroccan and the United Arab Emirates.

Six Danish F-16 fighter jets landed at the U.S. naval air station in Sigonella, Sicily, as the international military buildup mounts for possible action against Libya.

Danish air force spokesman Lars Skjoldan said the six F-16s would be ready for operation in Libya by Sunday.

Italy has offered the use of seven air and navy bases already housing U.S., NATO and Italian forces to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya and protect Libyan civilians from Mr. Gadhafi’s forces. Sigonella’s size and close proximity to Libya makes it a key staging point.

Italy’s defence minister, Ignazio La Russa, said Saturday that Italy wasn’t just “renting out” its bases for others to use but was prepared to offer “moderate but determined” military support.

Mr. Gadhafi announced a ceasefire Friday and invited international monitors to provide verification. But his forces moved Saturday to crush the five-week-old rebellion against him, firing rockets and launching air strikes on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

A warplane was shot down over the city Saturday morning. Videos show a flaming aircraft plunging to the ground and exploding on impact.

Mr. Gadhafi issued a statement declaring the UN resolution authorizing international military intervention in Libya was “invalid.” The statement came from a Libyan government spokesman at a news conference in Tripoli.

Mr. Gadhafi said he has sent a message to Mr. Obama defending his decision to attack rebel cities. “If you found them taking over American cities by the force of arms, tell me what you would do,” Mr. Gadhafi said in his message.

The Libyan government spokesman read from letters Mr. Gadhafi sent to Mr. Sarkozy, Mr. Cameron and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

“Libya is not yours. Libya is for the Libyans. The Security Council resolution is invalid,” Mr. Gadhafi wrote. “You will regret it if you dare to intervene in our country.”

They will be part of an international effort to back the United Nations Security Council resolution that is trying to prevent violence by forces loyal to Mr. Gadhafi against rebels and civilians.

Libya denied violating the ceasefire, blaming the rebels for doing so. Saturday’s developments raised the possibility of swift action to implement the no-fly zone.

With files from The Associated Press and Reuters

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