The Battle for Benghazi looms as UN considers action

Libyan state television has claimed forces loyal to Gaddafi have recaptured Misrata, but residents and rebels in the city moved quickly to rebut the report.

It is a similar story with Ajdabiya in the east: Gaddafi claims to have taken it back, the rebels and civilians say otherwise.

What is certain is that the US, via Susan Rice, its ambassador to the UN, has changed its tack: not only will it give its support for a UN Security Council resolution imposing a no-fly zone, but it has given its strongest hint yet that it is eyeing greater measures on the ground. It is expected that vote will take place on Thursday.

Whatever the outcome, the UN will likely be perturbed by a statement made by Libya’s defence ministry on state television.

The ministry warned that it would strike back at civilian and foreign targets if the country comes under attack from foreign forces.

“Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger and civilian and military (facilities) will become targets of Libya’s counter-attack,” said the statement.

“The Mediterranean basin will face danger not just in the short-term, but also in the long-term,” it said.

Click here to read the Security Council draft resolution for proposed United Nations intervention in Libya 

Decisions of the Security Council are made by a ‘yes’ vote of nine members of the Council including the concurring votes of the five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America).

Until now, China and Russia have voiced reluctance to pass the resolution, but US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that since the Arab League backed the strategy, there had been a “sea change” in opinion toward favouring the action.

Referring to Russia and China, she said. “I think they are willing to talk about what’s at stake here.”

At least two Arab states have reportedly said they would participate in a no-fly zone over Libya, according to the Arab League’s UN representative Yahya Mahmassani, adding that the United Arab Emirates and Qatar would “maybe” be among those participating.

It is thought, however, that the US will not act without Security Council authorisation and does not want to put its ground troops into Libya.

But the Obama administration’s change of heart over the no-fly zone gives weight to the position of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who wrote to the heads of state or government of all the other Security Council members seeking urgent backing for action.

“Together, we can save the martyred people of Libya. It is now a matter of days, if not hours,” he said in the letter.

But Foreign Secretary William Hague was sceptical that agreement would happen.

In a statement to MPs, he said negotiations were under way in New York. “We will do our utmost to ensure the passing of a resolution which places the maximum pressure on the Libyan regime and which extends protection to the beleaguered and oppressed civilian population of Libya,” he said.

“There are a range of views in the Security Council on the measures that have been proposed and this draft reflects already that range of views.
“I must not pretend that agreement on this will be easy, even on large elements on it.

“But we’re clear that it is right to seek authority for a combination of these measures for the people of Libya, for all those in the region campaigning for change and for Britain’s national security.”

The Foreign Secretary said the draft resolution includes demands for an immediate ceasefire, a complete end to violence and a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace with the exception of humanitarian flights.

However, rebels on the ground are growing impatient. Sudan al-Miswrite, a rebel spokesman in the city of Misrata said: “People are fed up. They are waiting impatiently for an international move,” said.

“What Gaddafi is doing, he is exploiting delays by international community. People are very angry that no action is being taken against Gaddafi’s weaponry.”

With Gaddafi’s troops edging towards the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, the aid organistaion, the Red Cross, announced it is pulling out of the city proper. Instead, it will relocate to the eastern city of Tobruk.

The head of the ICRC mission in Libya, Simon Brooks, says the group is “extremely concerned about what will happen to civilians, the sick and wounded, detainees and others”.

Ajdabiya

Two days of heavy battles have taken place at the of Ajdabiya – the gateway to Benghazi 100 miles away.

Government forces have been seen bringing in supplies at Ajdabiya including ammunition, rockets and supplies – signs of an intensified effort by Gaddafi to retake control of the country he has ruled with an iron fist for more than four decades.

In Benghazi, the war was taken to the rebel capital for the first time, as three loyalist fighter jets carried out air-strikes on the city’s airport, breaking off their attack amid anti-aircraft fire.

Meanwhile, a journalist who was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2009 has been reported missing in Libya, along with three colleagues.

The four New York Times journalists, including Briton Stephen Farrell, were last heard from them two days ago from Ajdabiya.

Libyan officials told the newspaper they were trying to locate the four, executive editor Bill Keller said in a statement.

The paper said there were unconfirmed reports that forces loyal to Gaddafi had detained them.

Two years ago, Farrell was kidnapped by the Taliban and later rescued by British commandos, one of which died during the operations, as well as an Afghan journalist.

He was also kidnapped in 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq.

Farrell’s colleagues are Anthony Shadid, and photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario.

Read more: The strength of Gaddafi forces heading for Benghazi

Misrata

Misrata, near Tripoli – the rebels’ last remaining stronghold in the west of the country – also remains under intense pressure. Gaddafi has vowed to retake the country’s third city, which has a population of 500 000, promising a “decisive battle” on Thursday to recapture the city.

In an equally defiant tone, Colonel Gaddafi’s son – Saif al-Islam Gaddafi – boasted to Channel 4 News Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Miller that the rebellion will be over by Friday.

“You will see the millions there happy for their liberation from the dark forces. You will see,” he said.

“You saw in Zawiyah, you will see it in Misrata, in Ras Lanuf..we have many examples.”

Bahrain

The UK government is chartering planes to the tiny island state following a state of emergency being called and a resumption of bloody violence between anti-governemnt protesters and security forces. A flight left Bahrain for Dubai on Thurdsay afternoon and another is being arranged to fly from Bahrain to London at midday on 18 March.

Although Bahrain was generally calm on Thursday following the announcment of martial law and a curfew, security forces did arrest seven opposition leaders.

And many expect the violence to return on Friday, on which protesters have called for a so-called Day of Rage.The flames will surely have been stoked by the leader of Bahrain’s largest opposition group, who urged Saudi Arabia to withdraw its forces and called for a UN inquiry into a crackdown on mainly Shi’ite protesters.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Hague said: “The UK remains seriously concerned about clashes with protesters and reports of several casualties. “I call on all parties to engage in an open and constructive national dialogue, so that it is translated as soon as possible into tangible actions that respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Bahraini people.”