Scoop News: Libya Foreign Minister Orders Immediate Ceasefire
Report - By The Scoop Team.
Sunday MARCH 20: A US-led coalition has launched cruise missile and airstrikes against Gaddafi controlled air defences in what is called
Operation "Odyssey Dawn". The coalition includes forces from the US, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Qatar.
(Full report below video...)
Scoop News: Coalition Of US, Canada, UK, France, Italy Strike Against Gaddafi's Libya
Sunday MARCH 20: A US-led coalition has launched cruise missile and airstrikes against Gaddafi controlled air defences in what is called
Operation "Odyssey Dawn". The coalition includes forces from the US, UK, France, Canada, Italy, Qatar.
The attacks began with cruise missile attacks from US Naval ships located off the coast of Libya. The operation first
targeted Gaddafi-held defences in Tripoli and Misrata. Reuters reports 25 coalition ships, including three US submarines
armed with Tomahawk missiles have been in the Mediterranean Sea waiting for the order to attack.
Libyan Youth Movement says mass defections are occurring as soldiers once loyal to Gaddafi swap sides joining the
opposition forces.
Strafor's George Friedman writes: "The long-term goal, unspoken but well understood, is regime change — displacing the government of Libyan leader
Moammar Gadhafi and replacing it with a new regime built around the rebels.
"The mission is clearer than the strategy, and that strategy can’t be figured out from the first moves. The strategy
might be the imposition of a no-fly zone, the imposition of a no-fly zone and attacks against Libya’s
command-and-control centers, or these two plus direct ground attacks on Gadhafi’s forces. These could also be combined
with an invasion and occupation of Libya," George Friedman wrote. Click here for more
Earlier, pro-Gaddafi Forces defied the UN Security Council order for an immediate ceasefire. Throughout Saturday (NZ time) Gaddafi forces attacked
the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in direct defiance to warnings from the United States president Barack Obama. Muammar
Gaddafi loyalists attacked both civilian and opposition areas of Benghazi with artillery, tanks and airstrikes.
Libyan Youth Movement had tweeted: "Tanks roll down the street of Benghazi with the independence flag as Benghazi
celebrates her victory against Gaddafi once again." But opposition forces pushed the advance back as the international
coalition began its offensive.
Scoop Washington correspondent Connie Lawn reports
MARCH 19: A BBC reporter in the city confirmed Pro-Gaddafi tanks inside Libya's rebel stronghold of Benghazi. And the Libyan
Youth Movement tweeted from Benghazi: "The UN resolution specifically mentioned protection of Benghazi if attacked. Well
it was and is being attacked..."
Al-Jazeera reports one of its correspondents as saying a street in central Benghazi has been targeted by bombers. It
also reports that bombing of Benghazi has hit a hotel where journalists are staying.
A BBC reporter in Benghazi says it appears the ceasefire is being ignored by pro-Gaddafi forces.
The following text was read out on Al Arabiya television by Gaddafi's spokesman:
The first letter to brother leader to Barack Obama:
"To our son, his excellency, Mr Baracka Hussein Obama. I have said to you before, that even if Libya and the United
States of America enter into a war, god forbid, you will always remain a son. Your picture will not be changed. I want
you to remain in the same image. I have all the people of Libya with me, and I'm prepared to die and we have all the
men, children and women with me. Nothing more. Al Qaeda is an armed organisation, passing through Algeria, Mauritania
and Mali. What would you do if you found them controlling American cities with the power of weapons? What would you do,
so I can follow your example."
Gaddafi's Letter to Ban Ki Moon, Sarkozy and Cameron:
"Libya is not yours, Libya is for the Libyans. The security council, their resolution is void because it is not
according to the charter to interfere with the internal affairs of the country. … You have no right. You will regret if
you get involved in this, our country. We can never shoot a single bullet on our people, it is Al Qaeda organisation."
Earlier Saturday (NZ Time) US president Barack Obama said the international community would show 'No Mercy' unless
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi complied fully with the UN resolution ordering a complete ceasefire. The Libyan Foreign
Minister Moussa Koussa had announced the regime had ordered an immediate and unilateral ceasefire.
The move had stalled a United Nations Security Council backed move that would have seen US, UK, France and other states
use military attacks against Libyan forces and to enforce a “No Fly Zone” designed to protect civilians and people
opposing the Gaddafi Libyan Government.
But US President Barack Obama said if Gaddafi did not comply there would be "no mercy" and the US, UK and France this
morning issued a joint statement saying Gaddafi must implement the ceasefire immediately. The statement reads:
"Gaddafi must stop his troops from advancing on Benghazi, pull back his troops from Ajdabiyah, Misrata, and Zawiyah, and
re-establish water, electricity and gas supplies to all areas. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the
people of Libya. These terms are not negotiable. If Gaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international
community will impose consequences, and this resolution will be enforced through military action."
The White House also issued a short statement. It read:
Readout of President Obama’s Calls with Prime Minister Cameron and President Sarkozy
Following the successful adoption today of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 on Libya, President Obama called Prime
Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France. The leaders agreed that Libya must
immediately comply with all terms of the resolution and that violence against the civilian population of Libya must
cease. The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, and to continue working with Arab and other international
partners to ensure the enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions on Libya.
MARCH 18 On Friday, the Security Council's 15 member nations put the 'No Fly Zone” proposal to the vote: ten were in favour with no votes against. Five countries abstained. They
were: Brazil, Russia, China, Germany, India.
Prior to the Iraq invasion the Security Council had endorsed a “No Fly Zone” over Iraq's northern and southern
territories. A similar plan is being established to control Libya airspace.
Thursday (New York Time) Resolution 1973 was passed. It authorises 'all necessary measures' and includes airstrikes and
the use of heavy artillery, permitting the use of ground forces. It also includes a beefed up arms embargo and
additional economic sanctions, but excludes an occupation force.
Some Arab and African states as well as the U.S., France and Britain pushed for the measure.
On Thursday, UK Ambassador to the UN Mark Lyall Grant said: "Resolution 1973 demands that Colonel Qhadafi implement an
immediate ceasefire. It imposes a no-fly zone to prevent the Qhadafi regime using air power against the Libyan people.
It authorizes Member States to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under
threat of attack. It rules out a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory. It imposes a
range of additional measures including significant action to tighten enforcement of the arms embargo and to deny the
regime access to funds."
The Security Council issued the following statement: "... today effectively authorized the use of force in Libya to
protect civilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, which Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi has
reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revolt against his regime.
"Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if needed, the Council adopted a
resolution by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions, including those of veto-wielding China and Russia, authorizing
Member States “to take all necessary measures… to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack
in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force,” the Security Council stated.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has addressed people in Benghazi stating that opposition to his rule includes "drug
addicts" who were primed to revolt against his rule. He said imperial forces are turning Libya, a wealthy nation, into
one as poor as Somalia. He urged those who oppose him to put down their weapons and to be assured that an amnesty will
be issued if they do so. Others he said should stay at home. But that his security forces will search every home and if
weapons are found those people will be considered an enemy.
But the UN is demanding an "immediate ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against and abuse of
civilians". It is condemning the “gross and systematic violation of human rights, including arbitrary detentions,
enforced disappearances and summary executions.”
The UN Security Council noted that the attacks currently taking place may amount to crimes against humanity:
International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has already opened an investigation into Mr. Qadhafi, some of
his sons and members of his inner circle for such crimes in repressing peaceful protesters. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon has said Mr. Qadhafi lost his legitimacy when he declared war on his people.
France has been arguing for a No Fly Zone for the past ten days.
Earlier, a spokesperson for France's Foreign Affairs Ministry observed that the situation in Libya was deteriorating
and noted that France had been urging other members of the UN Security Council to mobilise "the international community
in order to enable it to take action... including "concrete and operational measures which will allow us to protect, as
swiftly as possible, the civilian populations who are currently at risk.", the Spokesperson said.
Rationale underlying the Security Council resolution was that the international community cannot stand by while
Gaddafi's forces swept through Libya killing those who opposed his rule. Gaddafi's sweep of dissidents has been gaining
momentum throughout this week.
The United Nations issued a statement an hour after the Security Council passed the resolution. It expressed "grave
concern at the deteriorating situation, the escalation of violence, and the heavy civilian casualties, the Council
established a no-fly zone, banning all flights – except those for humanitarian purposes – in Libyan airspace in order to
help protect civilians. It specifically calls on Arab League states to cooperate with other Member States in taking the
necessary measures".
"The Arab League last weekend requested the Council to impose a no-fly zone after Mr. Qadhafi was reported to have used
warplanes, warships, tanks and artillery to seize back cities taken over in what started out a month ago as mass
protests by peaceful civilians seeking an end to his 41-year rule," the UN stated.
It added: "The resolution further strengthens an arms embargo that the Council imposed last month when it unanimously
approved sanctions against the Libyan authorities, freezing the assets of its leaders and referring the ongoing violent
repression of civilian demonstrators to the International Criminal Court (ICC)," the UN stated.
More information to come...