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- IRISH OS1R1S
- Rep: 59
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
Leaders of nations supporting the UN-backed no-fly zone over Libya have warned Colonel Gaddafi that "the time for action" has come over because of ceasefire breaches. Skip related content
British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The time for action has come and it needs to be urgent.
"Colonel Gaddafi has made this happen - he lied to the international community."
French president Nicolas Sarkozy added that military force would be used "in the absence of an immediate ceasefire" because "the Libyan people need our help."
A source confirmed to the Reuters news agency that French aircraft were already operating within Libyan airspace.
Observers now believe selective targets in Libya will be hit within the next 24 hours.
Earlier in the day rebels said a jet fighter operated by one of their number crashed as it tried to take on pro-Gaddafi militia, which they say are attacking them in breach of a ceasefire announced on Friday.
Reports said Libyan forces intend to deploy 'human shields' to thwart any UN-backed bombing campaign.
State news agency Jana reported that civilians were converging on government facilities believed to be bombing targets for an impending UN-backed air intervention force.
Sky's Lisa Holland, reporting from the Libyan capital of Tripoli under government restrictions, said: "I cannot independently confirm the claim of human shields but if it is true it is a worrying development that shows the regime will stop at nothing."
The rebel pilot of the fighter jet, which may have been shot down or suffered catastrophic engine failure, ejected moments it crashed in a fireball in Benghazi's southern suburbs.
Sky's Emma Hurd, who witnessed the crash, said: "It had been circling above the heavily populated areas and then it went into a fast dive and caught on fire."
A Benghazi resident named Sam later claimed the city was being hit by rocket fire from ground forces loyal to Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
She told Sky News: "Benghazi has been under continuous bombing since around 6am this morning - it was non-stop and the windows were shaking.
"Their troops have been bombing civilian areas with no military facilities... Civilians are being attacked in Benghazi."
But a government official insisted military forces were not being used to attack the city on Saturday, amid claims of 25 dead being taken to the city's hospitals.
Sky News foreign editor Tim Marshall also revealed that paucity of information coming from the city of 675,000 people.
"We have very little factual detail coming out of Benghazi, instead we have claim and counter-claim," Marshall said.
"Just as the Libyan forces are capable of using propaganda, the rebel forces are prepared to use it too, in an attempt to draw in outside forces to help their cause."
Libya declared a ceasefire on Friday after the UN authorised the no-fly zone over the country.
Deputy foreign minister Khaled Kaim told Holland: "We are categorically denying there is any military operation on the ground (in the city of Benghazi) since we announced the decision has been made to cease fire."
Regime spokesman Ibrahim Moussa later said the Gaddafi's government remained defiant about the threat of military action.
Mr Moussa also denied government forces shelled any Libyan towns today, saying the rebels were the ones breaking the ceasefire by attacking military forces.
Reading from a letter sent by the dictator to Mr Cameron, Mr Sarkozy and the UN secretary general, he said: "You will regret it if you take a step towards intervening in our internal affairs, in our country.
"The UN security council is not authorised, according to the UN charter, to intervene in the internal affairs of any country."
Col Gaddafi insisted the rebels are Islamists and said in the statement: "We are fighting al Qaeda, in what they call the Islamic Maghreb."
The head of the rebel National Libyan Council said the international community must act swiftly to protect civilians from Gaddafi's forces bombarding Benghazi.
"We appeal to the international community, to the all the free world, to stop this tyranny from exterminating civilians," Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.
On Friday the UK announced a deployment of fighter jets to help enforce the no-fly zone.
Mr Cameron told the House of Commons: "Britain will deploy Tornados and Typhoons as well as air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft.
"Our forces will join an international operation to enforce the resolution if Gaddafi fails to comply with its demand that he ends attacks on civilians."
Libyan officials have sought to link economic interests to the impending military action.
Libya's oil minister warned Western companies under contract to continue operating in the country otherwise Chinese and Indian oil firms may be given those rights.
:: A resident of the western town of Misratah told Reuters Gaddafi's forces were on the outskirts of the rebel town and water supplies had been cut off.
:: Canadian fighter and transport aircraft have refuelled at Scotland's Prestwick airport en route to the Mediterranean.
- IRISH OS1R1S
- Rep: 59
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
British air forces are in action over Libya as part of international action against dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
The launch of UK operations was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron outside 10 Downing Street after he chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee.
Hailing the military action as "necessary, legal and right", the Prime Minister said: "We should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people".
He said his thoughts were with British service personnel who were risking their lives to save others, and he added: "I believe we should all be confident that what we are doing is in a just cause and in our nation's interest."
Earlier, French fighter jets began the UN-authorised military action, firing on armoured vehicles being used by forces loyal to Gaddafi outside the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
The Ministry of Defence declined to give any immediate information about what British forces have been deployed in Libya or the nature and location of their mission, but Mr Cameron told the House of Commons on Friday that RAF Typhoon and Tornado fast fighter jets would be involved in the mission - codenamed Operation Ellamy - alongside surveillance aircraft and air-to-air refuelling planes.
Military action was launched following an emergency summit in Paris, at which 19 nations - including a number of Arab states - agreed that Gaddafi had flouted the terms of Thursday's United Nations resolution demanding an immediate end to violence and authorising "any necessary measure" short of foreign occupation.
Around 20 French Mirage and Rafale fighter planes went into action over Benghazi, which had been subjected to intense bombardment by Gaddafi loyalists despite a ceasefire announced on Friday.
Mr Cameron, who hurried back to London to convene the Cobra meeting, said: "Tonight, British forces are in action over Libya. They are part of an international coalition that has come together to enforce the will of the United Nations and to support the Libyan people.
"We have all seen the appalling brutality that Colonel Gaddafi has meted out against his own people. And far from introducing the ceasefire he spoke about, he has actually stepped up the attacks and the brutality we can all see. So what we are doing is necessary, it is legal, and it is right."
- Communist China
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- IRISH OS1R1S
- Rep: 59
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
Earlier today Sky News reported that none of their reporters on the scene witnessed or had any evidence whatsoever that the ceasefire had been broken by the Lybian army. Reporters were stationed right where attacks were apparently happening according to the rebels, but their reporters stated that nothing was happening in the region.
Hmmm?
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
I was looking at this story earlier. A friend of mine says " The UN decided to Assassinate Gaddafi"via local news. I thought way to go announce it to the world. But the only internet talk I could find was that the West was urged to act.
Gaddafi is all over youtube with ...interesting ideas. And it seems he took also over the Podium @ a UN meeting in 2009 and offended everyone. He is also linked with al-Qaida by some. While saying al-Qaida does not exist.
It will be interesting to see how this turns out. I just hope it dose not turn into another long costly war for the US, or any nation.
- Communist China
- Rep: 130
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
I don't think our motives can be summed up in one word, but I can evaluate the idea in one: bad.
Re: Allied Forces act over Libya
Gaddafi says JFK was assassinated by Israel , Obama Rant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmNzEpbkftU
THERE IS NO AL QAEDA! Muammar Gaddafi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K5ZNuu1I2c
CNN Muammar Gaddafi-9/11 Hi Jackers Were Trained In USA, Israel and Palestine should combine to form Isretine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbo5C_el5g0
Chaos at AU summit as Libya's Gaddafi slaps guard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ-SRoWvs4k
Bizarre Qaddafi Rant on Taliban, U.S. Civil War, Humanity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67vSQN3Ga1s
Dictator Gaddafi demands 7 trillion dollars from Europe "or face massimmigration". At UN 09-23-09
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9n5JnH9wYU
Gunfire, Bonfire and riots in the street
Uploaded by MrGlasgowTruther4U on Feb 22, 2011
Gadaffi's spoke on state tv for some length of time, and he came out fighting. He has no intentions of steppind down like other leaders in the area have done, he said.
He has demanded the protesters hand in their guns and army stolen from the police and the army, so that the peaceful protesters in support of "his revolution" could take to the streets.
This is fast becoming a regional crisis with Gadaffi speaking very aggresively.
And if you think it wont affect you here in the west, think again.
***** He mentioned halting export of oil from the region - that would put the price of oil even higher. *********
This is in danger of esculating out of hand, quick.
Please keep the people of Libya in your thoughts at this time. And Good Luck To Them All. R.I.P to all those that have sadly lost their lives.
RAW, Libya Protests 17 /02/ 2011 - Police Fires Shots at Protesters, 14 Killed.
Protester shot at and killed in Libya (17 feb) (WARNING be sure you want to see this before clicking it.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CoO00yczdc
Libya - Fighter Jets Ordered To Fire On Protesters - Air Force Commanders Defect
nside Story - Crushing Libya's revolt
