Libyan ruler Moammer Gaddafi called the allied nations bombing his country "terrorists" yesterday, a day after the United States, United Kingdom and France began to enforce a United Nations-mandated no-fly zone to protect Libya's civilians from their leader.
Libyan ruler Moammer Gaddafi called the allied nations bombing his country "terrorists" yesterday, a day after the United States, United Kingdom and France began to enforce a United Nations-mandated no-fly zone to protect Libya's civilians from their leader.
Bloody Aftermath: A rebel walks past wrecked vehicles belonging to
Gaddafi forces bombed by the French airforce in al-Wayfiyah near Benghazi.
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There was violence across the country yesterday, with Gaddafi apparently shelling rebels in the west while allied airstrikes destroyed one of Gaddafi's convoys in the east, according to rebels. Gaddafi said the strikes were a confrontation between the Libyan people and 'the new Nazis,' and promised "a long-drawn war."
Supporters wave the green flag as they celebrate outside Gaddafi's Bab
al-Azizia command headquarters. Pics/AFP
"You have proven to the world that you are not civilised, that you are terrorists -- animals attacking a safe nation that did nothing against you," Gaddafi said in a televised speech. While Gaddafi spoke, his regime was shelling the city of Misrata last morning using tanks, artillery and cannons, a witness said.
"They are destroying the city," said the witness. He said rebels were fighting back. At least 40 military vehicles were destroyed by multiple airstrikes yesterday, leading charred bodies, twisted tanks and smashed trucks.
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there would be continuous allied air cover of Benghazi."The no-fly zone is effectively already in place," he said, adding that air attacks by coalition forces have taken out most of Libya's air defence systems and some airfields. Some Libyans welcomed the American, French and British military forces. Others remained fearful of Gaddafi.
Libyans are "afraid to come out because when they do, he attacked them very, very severely," said a woman in Tripoli . "This is putting terror in all neighbourhoods." British Prime Minister David Cameron said the international mission "is necessary, it is legal, and it is right."
But, Gaddafi remained defiant, saying Libya will fight back against undeserved "naked aggression."His military said the strikes killed 48 people -- "mostly women, children and religious clerics." "The majority of these attacks were on public areas, hospitals and schools. They frightened the children and women near those areas that were subject to this aggression," the military said.
China's foreign ministry said yesterday it did not agree with the use of force in international relations. And Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also denounced the military intervention. "They (the United States) want to appropriate the oil in Libya; they don't care about anyone's life in that region," Chavez said.
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