Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi addressed the country on national television where he charged the western imperialist states of backing the rebels that are trying to destroy the unity and sovereingty of this oil-rich North African state. a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
9 March 2011
Last updated at 00:25 ET
Libya no-fly zone a UN decision, says Hillary Clinton
Imperialist calls are growing for a no-fly zone over Libya, as Col Gaddafi made another TV appearance
Any decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya should be made by the UN and not by Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.
Mrs Clinton said it was important such a move came from the Libyan people, rather than being a US-led effort.
Calls for military intervention are growing as pro-Gaddafi forces bombard areas held by Libyan rebels.
Meanwhile, Col Gaddafi has made a defiant speech on Libyan TV, labelling rebels and opposition leaders traitors.
Addressing a room full of cheering supporters he again claimed that the rebels had been brainwashed by al-Qaeda.
The rebel forces are fighting to end Col Gaddafi's 41 years in power, and more than 1,000 people are believed to have died. Some 200,000 others have been displaced by the fighting.
Mrs Clinton reiterated her government's call for Col Gaddafi to step down peacefully, but warned that the crisis in Libya could be protracted.
"I think it's very important that this not be a US-led effort, because this comes from the people of Libya themselves," Mrs Clinton told Sky News.
"We are going to support the efforts that are being made, because we think that the people of Libya themselves have to be supported, and we know how difficult this struggle is."
'Full spectrum'
US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron discussed a possible no-fly zone on Tuesday, but both countries maintain that any intervention must have wide international support.
A White House statement said the two leaders discussed a "full spectrum of possible responses" in their telephone call.
It is believed other options include more surveillance, humanitarian help and the enforcement of an arms embargo on Libya.
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "We have got to prepare for what we might have to do if he (Gaddafi) goes on brutalising his own people."
The UK and France are working on a UN Security Council resolution for a no-fly zone, however Russia has already stated its opposition to military intervention.
Nato defence ministers will discuss options for Libya on Thursday and Friday.
In Washington, President Obama has faced criticism that he is being too cautious over the turmoil in Libya.
Republican Senator John McCain said: "Every day and every hour that goes by, innocent Libyans are being attacked and massacred from the air."
Calls for a no-fly zone have also come from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim countries, and Gulf Arab states.
In Tripoli on Tuesday night, Col Gaddafi arrived at a hotel surrounded by tight security and held exclusive interviews with Turkish and French television stations.
He then left without addressing other journalists, some of whom had been waiting several hours to hear him.
On Tuesday, forces loyal to Col Gaddafi bombarded the rebel-held western town of Zawiya all day, shelling its suburbs with tank and artillery fire and trying to seize control of the town's main square.
One resident spoke of seeing 50 tanks and dozens of pick-up trucks loaded with pro-Gaddafi troops.
The main hospital is said to have been overwhelmed with casualties.
"I don't know how many are dead - they tore Zawiya down to ashes," a source in the town told the BBC.
In eastern Libya, rebel forces in the oil port of Ras Lanuf came under frequent air and artillery attacks. At least 30 people were reported injured.
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Tripoli says Col Gaddafi's forces are making significant military gains, consolidating their hold on western Libya.
In other developments, the European Union is expected to widen sanctions against Libya to include its sovereign wealth funds and central bank, EU officials say.
The sanctions, due to go into effect on Friday, will restrict Libyan organisations that hold stakes in a host of European companies, AP news agency reported.
The move goes beyond those sanctions already approved by the UN Security Council which targeted Col Gaddafi and his family and associates.
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Gaddafi blames unrest on foreigners
Rebel-held towns continue to be under attack as defiant Libyan leader alleges plot to colonise his country
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2011 07:01 GMT
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said rebels in his country are being drugged and armed by foreign forces
Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's embattled leader, has once again alleged involvement of foreigners in the rebellion against his more than 41-year-old rule.
In an address on State TV , Gaddafi warned of a plot to colonise Libya. As proof, he said his security forces had captured several foreigners during a raid on Monday.
His focus this time was on alleging that foreign influence was driving the rebel movement in this country, and he warned of the potential for colonisation of Libya. As proof, he said his security forces have captured several foreigners during one raid on Tuesday.""Yesterday, the mosque that the security forces regained power over, they had in this mosque, they had weapons and alcohol has well.
"Some of them come from Afghanistan, some of them come from Egypt, some of them come from Algeria, just to misguide our children alleging that foreign influence was driving the rebel movement in this country, and he warned of the potential for colonisation of Libya. As proof, he said his security forces have captured several foreigners during one raid on Tuesday."Yesterday, the mosque that the security forces regained power over, they had in this mosque, they had weapons and alcohol has well. Some of them come from Afghanistan, some of them come from Egypt, some of them come from Algeria, just to misguide our children," Gaddafi said.
He alleged "foreign forces" were recruiting vulnerable youngsters in Zentain, Az Zawiyah and Benghazi - cities currently being held by rebels ranged against him.
"Those who exhibit weakness are targeted ... Otherwise, why did they not come after you? ... so you see. This means only the scum who could not be strong," he said.
His address came after the rebels served him an ultimatum to step down within 72 hours.
"If he leaves Libya immediately, during 72 hours, and stops the bombardment, we as Libyans will step back from pursuing him for crimes," Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of the opposition National Council, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
"Conditions are that firstly he stops all combat in the fields, secondly that his departure is within 72 hours; thirdly we may waive our right of domestic prosecution ... for the crimes of oppression, persecution, starvation and massacres," Jalil said.
Conflicting reports
The offer came amid reports that Gaddafi had sent feelers to the opposition movement, expressing willingness to negotiate his exit.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that Gaddafi was willing to step down in return for having war crimes charges against him dropped and a guaranteed safe exit for him and his family.
He also reportedly wanted guarantees from the UN that he will be allowed to keep his money.
Libyan state television has, however, denied the reports. An official from the Libyan foreign ministry described the reports as "absolute nonsense".
Hoda Abdel-Hamid, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the eastern city of Benghazi, said she was hearing conflicting accounts of what happened.
"The head of the opposition National Council says there were indirect talks with people from Tripoli, who were given the green light from the regime," she said. "But the spokesman for the National Council denies any of that."
The US, on its part, rejected any possible amnesty for Gaddafi.
"Any departure from Libya does not exempt Mr Gaddafi or his family from any responsibility and accountability for what has occurred," PJ Crowley, spokesman for the White House, said on Tuesday.
No-fly zone debate
Gaddafi has triggered international outrage by seeking to violently quell the uprising sweeping across his North African nation.
His forces, backed by war planes, are attempting to wrest back territories under rebel control. The intense fighting has resulted in deaths and destruction, and the rebels have been pressing the international community to impose a no-fly zone.
"We don't want a foreign military intervention, but we do want a no-fly zone," rebel fighter Ali Suleiman told AP news agency.
"We are all waiting for one,'' he said. The rebels can take on "the rockets and the tanks, but not Gaddafi's air force''.
But Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, told a British television network on Tuesday that a no-fly zone over Libya ought to have international backing rather being a US-led effort.
"We want to see international community support for it," said Clinton.
As the international community debates its future course of action, pro-Gaddafi forces have strengthened their military position, squeezing rebel-held towns in the west and checking the advance of rebel fighters westwards towards the capital, Tripoli.
Reverses for rebels
Al Jazeera has heard reports that Gaddafi snipers were on Tripoli rooftops shooting randomly from the main square and that they were storming houses in some neighbourhoods and killing residents.
Fighting is also intensifying in Ras Lanuf - a key Libyan oil terminal in the centre of the country - amid reports of several air strikes on Tuesday. Az Zawiyah remains under siege, the towns of Misurata and Bin Jawad are also under attack.
Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Tripoli, said Gaddafi appears increasingly confident.
Flashpoint cities in Libya
"Whatever wishful thinking rebel groups may have been engaging in - that Colonel Gaddafi was somehow in the mood for compromise ... you have to look at the reality on the ground, and that is the use of force and the confidence of Gaddfi's forces is increasing, not decreasing," she said.
She said Az Zawiyah, 50km west of Tripoli, is "almost entirely crushed by continued bombardment" and that there's been an escalation of force further to the east of the country.
Hundreds if not thousands of people have died since Libya's uprising began on February 14 in an effort to end Gaddafi's rule, although tight restrictions on media make it near impossible to get an accurate number.
According to the International Organisation for Migration, over 215,000 people have fled the violence in Libya in recent weeks, although Ibrahim Osman, a Red Crescent official, said forces loyal to Gaddafi have prevent roughly 30,000 migrant workers from crossing into Tunisia, and forcing many to return to work in Tripoli.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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