Gadhafi's forces use artillery on rebels
Source: Agencies |
March 10, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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A HIGH-RANKING member of the Libyan military flew to Cairo yesterday with a message for Egyptian army officials from Moammar Gadhafi, whose troops pounded opposition forces with artillery barrages and gunfire in at least two major cities.
Gadhafi appeared to be keeping up the momentum he has seized in recent days in his fight against rebels trying to move on the capital, Tripoli, from territory they hold in eastern Libya.
Gadhafi's successes have left Western powers struggling to develop a plan to support the rebels without becoming ensnared in the complex and fast-moving conflict.
US President Barack Obama's most senior advisers were meeting yesterday to outline what steps are realistic and possible to pressure Gadhafi to give up power.
They planned to examine the ramifications of a no-fly zone over Libya and other potential military options, US officials said.
Britain and France are pushing for the UN to create a no-fly zone over the country.
In Cairo, a Egyptian army official said that Major General Abdul-Rahman bin Ali al-Saiid al-Zawi, the head of Libya's logistics and supply authority, was asking to meet Egypt's military rulers.
Gadhafi said in a Turkish television interview that Libyans would fight back if Western nations imposed a no-fly zone to prevent his government from using its air force to bomb government opponents staging a rebellion.
He said imposing the restrictions would prove the West's real intention was to seize his country's oil wealth.
"Such a situation would be useful," Gadhafi said. "The Libyan people would understand their real aims to take Libya under their control, to take their freedoms and to take their oil and all Libyan people will take up arms and fight."
Gadhafi spoke with Turkey's state-run TRT Turk television late on Tuesday after a surprise appearance at a hotel where foreign journalists are staying in Tripoli.
In separate remarks, he called on Libyans in the rebel-held east of the country to take back control from the opposition leaders who have seized the territory.
Forces loyal to the Libyan leader have been fighting rebels in the east as well as in a handful of towns close to the capital Tripoli, where he has total control.
Gadhafi again blamed al-Qaida operatives from Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories for the turmoil roiling his country since February 15.
In the TRT Turk interview, Gadhafi said there were no legitimate grounds for a foreign intervention in his country, insisting that Libya was only fighting al-Qaida as in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Gadhafi appeared to be keeping up the momentum he has seized in recent days in his fight against rebels trying to move on the capital, Tripoli, from territory they hold in eastern Libya.
Gadhafi's successes have left Western powers struggling to develop a plan to support the rebels without becoming ensnared in the complex and fast-moving conflict.
US President Barack Obama's most senior advisers were meeting yesterday to outline what steps are realistic and possible to pressure Gadhafi to give up power.
They planned to examine the ramifications of a no-fly zone over Libya and other potential military options, US officials said.
Britain and France are pushing for the UN to create a no-fly zone over the country.
In Cairo, a Egyptian army official said that Major General Abdul-Rahman bin Ali al-Saiid al-Zawi, the head of Libya's logistics and supply authority, was asking to meet Egypt's military rulers.
Gadhafi said in a Turkish television interview that Libyans would fight back if Western nations imposed a no-fly zone to prevent his government from using its air force to bomb government opponents staging a rebellion.
He said imposing the restrictions would prove the West's real intention was to seize his country's oil wealth.
"Such a situation would be useful," Gadhafi said. "The Libyan people would understand their real aims to take Libya under their control, to take their freedoms and to take their oil and all Libyan people will take up arms and fight."
Gadhafi spoke with Turkey's state-run TRT Turk television late on Tuesday after a surprise appearance at a hotel where foreign journalists are staying in Tripoli.
In separate remarks, he called on Libyans in the rebel-held east of the country to take back control from the opposition leaders who have seized the territory.
Forces loyal to the Libyan leader have been fighting rebels in the east as well as in a handful of towns close to the capital Tripoli, where he has total control.
Gadhafi again blamed al-Qaida operatives from Egypt, Algeria, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories for the turmoil roiling his country since February 15.
In the TRT Turk interview, Gadhafi said there were no legitimate grounds for a foreign intervention in his country, insisting that Libya was only fighting al-Qaida as in Afghanistan or Pakistan.
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