Libya: Gaddafi forces bomb rebel-held Benghazi

[TomClash]

Source: BBC

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have launched their first bombing raids on the main rebel-held city of Benghazi.

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Mustafa Gheriani, spokesman for the opposition Transitional National Council, said the city's airport had been attacked.


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A UN Security Council vote on action in Libya could be held later on Thursday.

Western countries want a no-fly zone to halt the advance of government forces.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12775824

[Aryo]

1. The UN must impose a no fly zone

We cannot let Qaddafi slaughter tens of thousands of innocents and just sit back.

[tabatha]

2. It seems that 2 or so airplanes have been shot down

with possible defections as well.

[pampango]

3. WaPo: US pushing for UNSC to act on Libya today.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/as-gaddafi-gains-wests-window-closes/2011/03/16/ABlGYNh_story.html

The Obama administration pressed Thursday for greater United Nations authority to confront Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi’s forces by land, air and sea, while insisting that Arab governments play a central role in any possible military action.

But U.S. diplomats sent the clearest signal yet that the Obama administration is willing to contemplate military operations even beyond a no-fly zone to resolve the crisis in the oil-rich nation. The lack of clarity over whether the United States and European nations would intervene raised the prospect that an emboldened Gaddafi, who Obama has said must leave office, will soon regain complete control of the nation and punish those who opposed him during weeks of fighting.

Clinton, who toured Tahrir Square, the center of Egypt’s recent revolution, said she hoped that a vote on the resolution would come “no later than” Thursday and that the Arab League endorsement of a no-fly zone over the weekend would persuade such countries as Russia and China to support the measure. In an interview with the BBC, Clinton said, “We are well aware that the clock is ticking.”

Obama has been content to let European allies lead the search for a resolution to the Libyan conflict, fearing that an overt U.S. endorsement of a no-fly zone or other measures would undermine the popular nature of the revolt in a country where the United States is deeply unpopular. France and Britain have taken the lead in drafting a no-fly resolution, and France’s chief Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bernard Valero, said the revised text now before the Security Council is probably the last real chance for the international community to act decisively in Libya.

[David__77]

4. Hopefully each security council member votes their conscience.

I believe that if this happens, international conflict will be avoided.