Libya: 'Ceasefire Has Not Been Broken'

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12:51am UK, Saturday March 19, 2011

Libya's deputy foreign minister has sought to reassure Britain, the US and their allies that it is committed to a ceasefire against rebels.

In an interview with Sky News correspondent Lisa Holland, Khaled Kaim claimed that his country was the victim of an uprising.

He spoke after US President Barack Obama called on Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi to stick to his ceasefire. The US ambassador to the UN has claimed that Col Gaddafi had already broken it.

Mr Kaim told Holland: "We are categorically denying there is any military operation on the ground (in the city of Benghazi) since we announced the decision has been made to cease fire."

Asked about earlier comments on state radio by Col Gaddafi, in which the leader appeared to say there would be no compassion shown to rebels of Benghazi, Mr Kaim said he was not referring to "ordinary people" but to "criminals".

Meanwhile, France's ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud has told the BBC that he expected military intervention in Libya within hours of a summit in Paris on Saturday.

Britain and France have joined the US and Arab nations in calls for Col Gaddafi's forces to halt their advance towards Benghazi, as Tripoli invites UN observers to monitor its "ceasefire".

The Libyan authorities invited the United Nations secretary-general to send a fact-finding mission to the country to check the situation on the ground.

RAF jets prepare to enforce no-fly zone over Libya

Mr Kaim earlier said Tripoli wants observers from Malta, China, Turkey and Germany to verify that the ceasefire is in place.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said earlier UK fighter jets would be deployed to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya, a tactic agreed in a resolution by the UN Security Council.

The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said that by Col Gaddafi's forces advancing on Benghazi, the dictator was in violation of the resolution.

Mr Kaim has said the presence of Libyan government forces around the city does not violate ceasefire rules and the army has no plans to attack the rebel stronghold.

It came amid reports of a loud explosion followed by anti-aircraft gunfire in the city.

In the statement, released by the French Presidential palace, the nations also want Col Gaddafi's forces to pull out of Misratah, Adjadbiyah and Zawiyah, calling for the restoration of water, electricity and gas services in all areas.

And it said Libya's population must be able to receive humanitarian aid.

libyan foreign minister: we have declared a ceasefire

Earlier in the day, reports said government troops were still shelling the rebel-held western city of Misratah, killing at least 25 people including children.

However, the Libyan government claimed its forces have not carried out any military operations today in Misratah or anywhere else in the country.

Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa declared a Libyan ceasefire and said the government would also "open dialogue channels" to ensure there was sustained peace in the country.

International relations experts said the Libyan announcement of a ceasefire gives the regime of dictator Col Gaddafi breathing space as the UN-backed states work on a response.

And Sky's Lisa Holland, reporting from Tripoli, said: "It is very, very interesting to hear this complete change in the regime's rhetoric.

Cameron: 'Libya Not Another Iraq'

"The language has changed dramatically and now they are talking about saving civilians - on Thursday night the regime was warning Benghazi residents they were coming to get them."

After the ceasefire was announced, Mr Cameron responded to the 11th-hour decision by Col Gaddafi.

"We will judge him by his actions and not his words - he must stop what he is doing and brutalising his people."

Addressing an audience later in Perth, Scotland, he claimed Libya would not become another Iraq and there would be no foreign occupation of the country."

Mr Cameron said: "The UN resolution - which we, with the Lebanese, the US and French helped draft - makes it quite clear there will be no foreign occupation of Libya.

What Does A No-Fly Zone Mean?

"The people of Libya don't want that, and neither do the UK and its allies. It is not going to happen.

"And it is not just that this time, the action has the full and unambiguous legal authority of the United Nations.

Mr Cameron had earlier told the House of Commons: "Britain will deploy Tornados and Typhoons as well as air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft.

"Our forces will join an international operation to enforce the resolution if Gaddafi fails to comply with its demand that he ends attacks on civilians.

"Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to bases from where they can start to take the necessary action."

Five countries - listed in blue - abstained from the UN Security Council vote

Mr Cameron made the announcement of Britain's involvement after Libya closed its air space to all traffic after the UN resolution was passed in New York on Thursday night.

Sky sources have said the name for the British participation in a no-fly mission over Libya is 'Operation Ellamy'.

Mr Obama said all attacks against civilians in Libya must stop.

He added: "If Gaddafi does not comply with the resolution, the international community will impose consequences. The resolution will be enforced through military action."

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=51cac0a458">Libya Crisis</a>

Col Gaddafi at first had threatened to turn into "hell" the lives of anyone who attacks Libya.

"If the world goes crazy, so will we... We will respond - we will turn their lives into hell," he said.

But in an attempt at brinksmanship Col Gaddafi then authorised the unexpected ceasefire announcement.

The 15-member UN Security Council voted on Thursday night to undertake the no-fly zone to protect the people of Libya.

But it was achieved with only 66% of the vote as five states abstained from voting. They were Brazil, China, Germany, India and Russia.

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