Tripoli, Libya (CNN) — Explosions and anti-aircraft fire thundered in the skies above Tripoli early Sunday, but it was not clear whether they resulted from another round of cruise missile attacks by allies determined to stop Moammar Gadhafi‘s offensive against Libyan opposition forces.
CNN’s Nic Robertson witnessed the development a few hours after nearly 1,000 people gathered at Gadhafi’s palace in the capital. The crowd chanted, waved flags and shot off fireworks in support of the government.
A defiant Gadhafi said Libya will fight back against undeserved “naked aggression.” His military claimed nearly 50 people, including, women, children and clerics, were killed in Saturday evening’s attacks.
American, French and British military forces, convinced that Gadhafi was not adhering to a United Nations-mandated cease-fire, hammered Libyan military positions with missiles and fighter jets in the first phase of an operation that will include enforcement of a no-fly zone.
An eyewitness in Tripoli reported seeing signs of gunfire rising Sunday morning from the direction of nearby Mitiga Airport. The anti-Gadhafi activist said she heard “continuous gunshots” and at least two loud explosions. It was not clear if the airport was also being used as a military installation.
U.S.-led coalition forces have launched more than 100 Tomahawk missiles on key air defense sites across Libya as part of operations to protect the population from the forces of long-time leader Moammar Gadhafi.
U.S. Vice Admiral William Gortney outlined what is being called “Operation Odyssey Dawn” several hours after he said the missiles started hitting more than 20 Libyan sites.
“The United States military has and will continue to use our unique capabilities to create the conditions from which we and our partners can best enforce the full measure of the U.N. mandate. Our mission right now is to shape the battle space in such a way that our partners may take the lead in execution,” he said.
He said Admiral Sam Locklear was leading the operations from the USS Mount Whitney in the Mediterranean Sea.
Fundamental Islam ,Monarchs and Dictators have been messing atoud too long.
People who have been under yoke now realize that they have been duped in the name of Religion by people to cling to power.
Popular uprising is the result.
Unfortunately the alternative is not bright as no body has built a viable option.
We are in for uncertain times.
MUSCAT — The Council of Ministers and the chief of Oman’s trade union federation called upon the people to protest peacefully and not to indulge in violent activities.
While the council of ministers warned the people against unlawful protests, the chairman of the General Federation of Oman Trade Unions (GFOTU) said that protestors should stop behaving in an ‘uncivilised manner’ like indulging in vandalism, arson and destroying property.
The anti-government protests, which began in February across the country, had turned violent in some places like Sohar, Ibri and Dhank where government and private properties were damaged and arson took place.
The Council of Ministers’ statement said that the pioneering steps taken by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to improve the standard of living of all citizens and provide jobs in many sectors, should be received in proper spirit by the people.
The Council of Ministers, while warning that no one is above the law, stated that since the authorities are considering the demands of all the protestors, they should not act in a manner, which is against the laws and legislations of the country. Such acts are also not in harmony with the culture, progress and values of the Sultanate.
Bahraini police blocked several thousand protesters from reaching the royal palace on Friday, amid fears the march would spark fighting on a Gulf island where the majority is Shi’ite Muslim but the ruling family is Sunni.
Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi Wednesday intensified offensives in the east and the west with relentless shelling aimed at routing holdout rebels and retaking control of the country four weeks into an uprising that is threatening his government.
Loyalist forces say they are closing in on the rebel held stronghold of Benghazi, with Libyan state TV reporting that two key tribes in the city have now thrown their support behind the Libyan leader.
Reports on the ground suggest the rebels’ position looks highly vulnerable after the government said its troops took control of the junction at Ajdabiyah.
SANA’A, March 13 — The United States is concerned that there is no clear alternative or transition plan should Saleh’s regime collapse. It believes that his departure will lead to chaos and instability in Yemen.
This view was conveyed by US ambassador to Yemen Gerald M. Feierstein, who reiterated his country’s position on Yemeni affairs in a meeting with selective media outlets on Saturday.
“Our problem is that the [Yemeni] people are demanding [the ouster of Saleh] without any idea how they will manage the government and prevent a disaster for the Yemeni people,” said Feierstein.
He said that his office has not received any concrete proposals by either the opposition parties or the pro-democracy youth protesters at Sana’a University explaining how the country will be managed during a transition period and how the new president will come to power.
“The people in the streets need to give us something to work with,” said the ambassador.
Meanwhile, one day after Feierstein’s meeting with the media, a coordination council established by youth protestors at Sana’a University issued a list of seven conditions that must be met if the demonstrations are to be brought to a close. These seven demands are also meant to serve as the basis for a national political program in a post-Saleh era.
The first two conditions are the immediate removal of Saleh, his family, his close relatives and his subordinates from power, and the subsequent formation of a temporary presidential council made up of representatives drawn from Yemen’s four main political powers (as well as a fifth representative appointed by the national security and military establishment).
At least 35 people have been killed and dozens injured in heavy clashes and exchange of mortars fire in Somalia’s war-ravaged capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, witnesses told Garowe Online.
Clashes between Somali government forces backed by African Union troops and Al-Shabaab extremist militias erupted after Al-Shabaab shelled mortars at the Somali Presidential house and its neighbourhood that claimed the life of ten civilians including a pregnant woman.
AMISOM and government forces shelled back mortars at the busy Bakaro market that left dead 21 people, mostly women and children.
Thanks to Qaddafi,US need not manufacture evidence, Qaddafi has provided it.
Go ahead,make another mess ,leave and leave Libyans sort out the mess if they can.
The Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi has once again appeared on state TV, vowing to fight on. A series of blasts have reportedly rocked the Libyan capital as Colonel Gaddafi continues to hold on. Several towns near Tripoli are now in the hands of the opposition. Butwitnesses say one of them has come under air attack, and forces loyal to Gaddafi have retaken a nearby oil facility. Meanwhile, the US is flexing its military muscle, moving its naval forces closer to Libya, and triggering speculation of possible strikes. The UK’s also not ruling out the use of force. The international storm’s gathering over the Libyan leader, with the UN suspending the country from its Human Rights Council. It also calls for a mass humanitarian evacuation for people caught up in the crisis. As world pressure mounts, RT’s Laura Emmett reports on whether NATO’s ready for a new war.
Gaddafi’s Wealth.n Switzerland, the government ordered a freeze today on any assets Qaddafi may have there. In the U.S., the Treasury asked banks to watch for any suspicious transactions involving Libyan accounts.
Qaddafi has ruled his oil-rich country for more than 40 years – but how much is he worth? Chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports government officials are still trying to figure out exactly how rich the Libyan leader and his family are. But one intelligence source told CBS News their wealth is estimated to be “in excess of $20 billion.”…
Confidential diplomatic cables unearthed by WikiLeaks underscore that estimate. In a January 2010 State Department cable written by current ambassador Gene Cretz, he states Qaddafi’s regime controls $32 billion in liquid assets around the world. And “that several American banks are each managing $300-500 million” in regime funds.
Gadhafi responds to air strikes
Warplane falls from sky
Gallery: Civil war in Libya
You must be logged in to post a comment.