To protect all civilians or just rebellious ones?

British and American leaders admit they are now in close contact with rebel leaders in the east of Libya but it isn’t yet clear whether the offensive is now coordinated between the parties, or whether the rebels are just taking advantage of facts on the ground. Either way the two things appear to be in harmony.

Rebel fighters drove in to Brega and Ras Lanuf as Gaddafi forces had driven out. And as long as civilians aren’t being caught in any fighting there doesn’t seem to be any problem as far as the UN resolution is concerned. But if pro-Gaddafi civilians are being forced from their homes in places like Sirte where does the UN stand on that?

The resolution says measures are authorised : “to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya”.

Read more: Around the Arab world in four uprisings

There have now been reports that civilians are fleeing their homes in Sirte in fear of what will happen when rebels take over their town. Does the alliance have a responsibility to protect them, and allow them to remain in their homes?

The whole idea that any civilians might support Gaddafi challenges most assumptions. And in truth we do not know how big a part fear and intimidation play in that support – both in Sirte and Tripoli. But the last week of action has seemed remarkably free of civilian casualties from the bombing – it may now throw up a different kind of challenge.

Read more in the Channel 4 News Special Report on Libya