HAIDER
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ARAB forces have joined the coalition mission against Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, adding legitimacy to the raids, as NATO took control of the no-fly zone mission.
A US official said today that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had contributed 12 war planes to the coalition, marking the first military assistance to the coalition from the 22-member Arab League.
"We are deeply appreciative of their contribution,'' the official said. He did not confirm press reports they were six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday she expected more Arab nations to join the coalition.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said today that Libyan government troops were disregarding a UN ceasefire order despite recent heavy bombing.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today said the alliance had agreed to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya as part of efforts "to protect civilians''
On the ground in Libya, Tripoli continued to come under attack from bombing raids, while rebels said they were negotiating the surrender of Gaddafi's forces in the flashpoint town of Ajdabiya.
"Some of the Ajdabiya militias have asked to surrender,'' Rebel army spokesman Ahmed Omar Bani said.
"We are trying to negotiate with these people in Ajdabiya because we are almost sure that they have lost contact with the headquarters.''
A government spokesman in Tripoli said almost 100 civilians had been killed since the coalition air strikes began on Saturday, giving a provisional toll which could not be independently confirmed.
After days of fraught talks, as NATO member Turkey objected to air strikes against Gaddafi's forces, the 28-member alliance finally agreed "to assume responsibility'' to enforce the no-fly zone, Rasmussen said.
Ankara's assent came after frantic diplomatic activity, including NATO's top military man in Europe, the US Admiral James Stavridis, being dispatched to woo senior generals and politicians in the Turkish capital.
UN chief Ban said Libya forces had continued to attack civilians.
"Libyan authorities have repeatedly claimed they have instituted a ceasefire," Ban said at UN headquarters in New York. "We see no evidence that that is the case. On the contrary, fierce battles have continued."
Reporting to the Security Council on implementation of a resolution authorising the use of force to end Gaddafi's campaign against armed rebels, Ban said the Libyan government had not "taken steps to carry out their obligations"
France's ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, echoed Ban, saying Gaddafi had failed to listen to the UN.
"We don't want words, we want actions," Araud said after the council meeting. "Colonel Gaddafi must accept a ceasefire immediately."
Ban also said that human rights abuses continued in Libya and that "those responsible for crimes against their people will be held accountable".
"We continue to have serious concerns, however, about protection of civilians, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and access of civilian populations to basic commodities and services in areas currently under siege," he said.
The Security Council was meeting amid growing outcry from opponents of the Western-led bombing campaign.
Russia and other countries have attacked the bombing as disproportionate, while the US and its European allies say that air strikes are being carefully targeted to avoid harm to civilians.
Ban told the council: "I expect the international community to continue to exercise full diligence in avoiding civilian casualties and collateral damage."
Referring to growing rifts over how to prosecute the war against Gaddafi's armed forces, Ban emphasised "how important it is for the international community to speak with one voice, both in implementing resolution 1973 and in dealing with the humanitarian situation."
Libyan authorities say that almost 100 civilians have died in the now week-long aerial onslaught. An unknown number of Libyan service personnel have been killed.
On Thursday, a senior US commander, General Carter Ham, said he could "not be sure there have been no civilian casualties. We are being very, very precise and discriminating in our targeting."
Araud acknowledged that in the council meeting "some countries were raising their concerns about civilian casualties". But he said that was "normal".
Ban said that defiance by the Libyan authorities may lead to further international pressure.
"The Security Council may take additional measures if Libyan authorities would not fully comply with the Security Council resolutions," he said. He did not give details.
Meanwhile, amid public wrangling between US and European allies over who should be in charge of the operation, the western military alliance NATO announced it would enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.
AFP
Arab nation joins coalition forces as NATO takes command | The Australian
A US official said today that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had contributed 12 war planes to the coalition, marking the first military assistance to the coalition from the 22-member Arab League.
"We are deeply appreciative of their contribution,'' the official said. He did not confirm press reports they were six F-16 and six Mirage aircraft.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday she expected more Arab nations to join the coalition.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon said today that Libyan government troops were disregarding a UN ceasefire order despite recent heavy bombing.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today said the alliance had agreed to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya as part of efforts "to protect civilians''
On the ground in Libya, Tripoli continued to come under attack from bombing raids, while rebels said they were negotiating the surrender of Gaddafi's forces in the flashpoint town of Ajdabiya.
"Some of the Ajdabiya militias have asked to surrender,'' Rebel army spokesman Ahmed Omar Bani said.
"We are trying to negotiate with these people in Ajdabiya because we are almost sure that they have lost contact with the headquarters.''
A government spokesman in Tripoli said almost 100 civilians had been killed since the coalition air strikes began on Saturday, giving a provisional toll which could not be independently confirmed.
After days of fraught talks, as NATO member Turkey objected to air strikes against Gaddafi's forces, the 28-member alliance finally agreed "to assume responsibility'' to enforce the no-fly zone, Rasmussen said.
Ankara's assent came after frantic diplomatic activity, including NATO's top military man in Europe, the US Admiral James Stavridis, being dispatched to woo senior generals and politicians in the Turkish capital.
UN chief Ban said Libya forces had continued to attack civilians.
"Libyan authorities have repeatedly claimed they have instituted a ceasefire," Ban said at UN headquarters in New York. "We see no evidence that that is the case. On the contrary, fierce battles have continued."
Reporting to the Security Council on implementation of a resolution authorising the use of force to end Gaddafi's campaign against armed rebels, Ban said the Libyan government had not "taken steps to carry out their obligations"
France's ambassador to the UN, Gerard Araud, echoed Ban, saying Gaddafi had failed to listen to the UN.
"We don't want words, we want actions," Araud said after the council meeting. "Colonel Gaddafi must accept a ceasefire immediately."
Ban also said that human rights abuses continued in Libya and that "those responsible for crimes against their people will be held accountable".
"We continue to have serious concerns, however, about protection of civilians, abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and access of civilian populations to basic commodities and services in areas currently under siege," he said.
The Security Council was meeting amid growing outcry from opponents of the Western-led bombing campaign.
Russia and other countries have attacked the bombing as disproportionate, while the US and its European allies say that air strikes are being carefully targeted to avoid harm to civilians.
Ban told the council: "I expect the international community to continue to exercise full diligence in avoiding civilian casualties and collateral damage."
Referring to growing rifts over how to prosecute the war against Gaddafi's armed forces, Ban emphasised "how important it is for the international community to speak with one voice, both in implementing resolution 1973 and in dealing with the humanitarian situation."
Libyan authorities say that almost 100 civilians have died in the now week-long aerial onslaught. An unknown number of Libyan service personnel have been killed.
On Thursday, a senior US commander, General Carter Ham, said he could "not be sure there have been no civilian casualties. We are being very, very precise and discriminating in our targeting."
Araud acknowledged that in the council meeting "some countries were raising their concerns about civilian casualties". But he said that was "normal".
Ban said that defiance by the Libyan authorities may lead to further international pressure.
"The Security Council may take additional measures if Libyan authorities would not fully comply with the Security Council resolutions," he said. He did not give details.
Meanwhile, amid public wrangling between US and European allies over who should be in charge of the operation, the western military alliance NATO announced it would enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.
AFP
Arab nation joins coalition forces as NATO takes command | The Australian
