|
Airstrikes continue over Libya as rebels gain ground
Saturday March 26, 2011 06:48:19 PM,
DPA
|
|
Cairo/Tripoli: Libyan
rebels Saturday recaptured the key eastern town of Ajdabiya, as
airstrikes by coalition forces imposing a no-fly zone over the
conflict-ridden country continued. People were celebrating in
Ajdabiya after opposition forces seized control, following days of
fierce fighting with Muammar Gaddafi's forces, broadcaster Al-Jazeera
reported.
Ajdabiya is located 160 km from the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on
the frontline between the Libyan leader's forces and the
rebel-controlled eastern part of Libya.
Rebels were reportedly on their way to the key oil port town of al-Burayqa,
where Gaddafi forces were retreating, the news channel reported
citing witnesses.
"The airstrikes provide air cover for the rebels to march south to
Adjdabiya. This is illegal," Libyan government spokesman Ibrahim
Mousa said late Friday, referring to action by the international
coalition.
Loud explosions were heard in the capital as airstrikes continued
early Saturday. A Libyan military spokesman said the attacks
targeting military and civilian sites in western Tripoli.
Since March 19, a US-led coalition that includes Britain and France
has been taking out Libyan air defences and ground forces in order
to prevent attacks on civilians.
US President Barack Obama said Saturday the mission in Libya was
succeeding and said that Gaddafi must be held responsible for his
actions.
"We're succeeding in our mission," Obama said in his weekly radio
address. "We've taken out Libya's air defences. Gaddafi's forces are
no longer advancing across Libya."
Obama also praised the international community for its involvement,
after NATO agreed to take over the enforcement of the no-fly zone.
He vowed that US involvement would remain limited and that no ground
forces would be sent into Libya.
The Washington Post reported that the US and other Western nations
are considering supplying the Libyan rebels with weapons.
The continuing ground battles between rebels and Gaddafi's forces
prompted the African Union (AU) Friday to call for a transitional
period that would lead to democratic elections in Libya. The AU and
African states such as South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe have called
for an end to coalition airstrikes.
Meanwhile, regional daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported Saturday that
Gaddafi is relying on unnamed Western "friends" to find a "dignified
solution" to the conflict that is gripping the North African
country.
The paper said Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, has left the country to
work out an "urgent plan" to prevent a further deterioration of the
political and military situation.
A high-level Libyan delegation headed by parliament speaker Muhammad
Abul-Qasim Al-Zawi arrived in Tunisia earlier and is now heading to
a secret destination for further talks, the paper added.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Top
Stories |
|
Curtailed
budget session ends for assembly elections
Parliament's budget session, the
shortest in recent history, ended Friday after witnessing bitter
discussions over alleged graft scams but scored low on legislative
business
»
Budget
session spent little time on legislation
Demand in
LS for fair deal to Muslims but no consensus on reservation
|
|
|
|
Most
Read |
|
 Lakhs
throng Deoband for prayers led by Imam-e-Haram Dr As-Sudais
Imam of the Grand Mosque, Masjid al Haram, Makkatul Mukarrema, Dr Abdul
Rahman As-Sudais is arriving
»
Imam of
the Grand Mosque arriving on three day historic visit to India
Friday
|
|
I have
never seen the Sabarmati Express, says
Godhra
'mastermind'
The
man who spent eight years in jail on charges of burning the Sabarmati Express in Godhra and killing 59 people has now been
declared innocent and walks free. But Saeed Umarji is a bitter
»
Acquitted
in Godhra case, he dies before meeting his family
|
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Congress
seeks time till in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
India's
Congress party has asked a US court time until June 24 to answer
charges in a case filed by a Sikh community group alleging genocide
in the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The Congress request was filed
»
|
|
Now
political storm
in Canada, Govt. toppled
Opposition parties joined forces to
topple the Canadian government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Friday through a no-confidence motion. With the ouster of the
minority government of the Conservative
»
|
|
Indian
Army launches human rights campaign in Kashmir
Long accused of committing excesses in
Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army has embarked on spreading human
rights awareness to the villagers
»
Amnesty
team visits Kashmir's summer unrest victims' kin
|
|
Teenaged girl burnt alive in suspected honour killing
In a suspected case of honour killing, a teenaged girl was
allegedly burnt alive by her family for having a love affair with a
youth, police said Saturday. The 17-year-old girl died Friday after
the hideout where she was staying with
»
|
|
The Arab World and
Western Imperials
The speedy intervention by America,
France and Britain in Libya in the name of UN Resolution in favour
of ‘No Fly” Zone is nothing but
»
Deploy UN
forces in Arab countries, say Mumbai Muslims
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a meeting with the
Imam-e-Haram, Makkahtul Mukerrema, Fazilatus Shaikh Dr.
Abdur Rahman Abdul Aziz al Sudais, in New Delhi on March 24,
2011. Dr Sudais is in India on a historic three day visit.
(Photo:
Shivraj |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links