Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Libya pressure increases, there is fighting at key points

U.S. and other foreign governments on Monday discussed options for addressing the situation in Libya, Moammar Gadhafi, while derided the threat posed to his government the progress of a popular uprising. With the Libyan government forces trying to retake control of coastal cities in the hands of the rebels, the U.S.

said he was bringing his U.S. naval and air forces to Libya. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, said Washington was in talks with its partners in NATO and other allies about military options. Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would work with allies to impose an air exclusion zone in Libya in order to protect his people from military attacks by the Government of Gadhafi.

It is difficult for reporters to move in Libya and reports of clashes were difficult to verify independently. But witnesses in Misrata, 200 kilometers (km) east, and Zawiyah, a strategic area of petroleum refining 50 miles west, said government forces were assembling or preparing attacks.

"A plane was shot down this morning when against local radio station. The protesters seized the crew, "a witness said by telephone in Misrata identified as Mohamed." The fighting for control of military air base began last night and continue today. Gaddafi's forces dominate only a small part (...) The protesters control a large part of the base where the ammunition, "he added.

A Libyan government source denied the report. A resident of Zawiyah, named Ibrahim, noted for your expected "attacks at any time by brigades belonging (Gadhafi's son) Khamis. Are on the outskirts of the city, about five to seven miles away. There are many of them. "In the capital, the last bastion of Gadhafi, a reporter saw 400 people demonstrating in a square in Tajoura district, which is partially outside government control.

Soon after, men in SUVs made shots in the air. Foreign governments are putting increasing pressure on Gadhafi leaves office, hoping to end clashes that left at least a thousand people and restore order in a country that contributes 2% of world oil production. The Security Council of United Nations imposed sanctions on Qaddafi and other Libyan officials, an arms embargo and asset freeze of the country.

European Union governments on Monday approved sanctions against Gadhafi in Brussels, implementing the UN resolution sooner than expected. France proposed an emergency summit of EU leaders on Thursday, diplomats said the bloc. In a speech to the Human Rights Council of the UN in Geneva, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said Monday that Moammar Gadhafi use "mercenaries and thugs," to suppress its own people and that the Libyan leader should resign immediately .

Gadhafi and those around him must be held accountable for these acts that violate international legal obligations and common decency, "said Clinton, adding that there were no options off the table while the international community considers its next steps.

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