UN allows military strikes to help topple Gadhafi—France

PARIS—(UPDATE 3) Military action to protect civilians from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s forces will come within “hours” and France will participate in the strikes, government spokesman Francois Baroin said Friday.

The strikes will come “rapidly… within a few hours,” he told RTL radio after the UN Security Council on Thursday cleared the way for air strikes by approving “all necessary measures” to impose a no-fly zone on Libya.

Shortly after Baroin spoke, Sarkozy met with Prime Minister Francois Fillon, as well as Defense Minister Gerard Longuet and army chief of staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud.

Baroin said the military action “is not an occupation of Libyan territory” but sought to “protect the Libyan people and to allow them to go all the way in their drive for freedom, which means bringing down the Gadhafi regime.”

Baroin declined to say “when, how, on which targets, in what form,” the strikes would come.

“The French who were at the vanguard of this call (for intervention) will naturally be part of the military intervention,” he said.

“What happened last night (with the UN resolution) is a very important step in dealing with the war in Libya, Kadhafi’s massacre of his people and we must recognise the powerful role played by President Nicolas Sarkozy and France.”

No ground troops

Diplomats have indicated that air strikes from a coalition led by Britain, France and the United States could be imminent. However, the resolution rules out sending in foreign ground troops.

Baroin hailed the role of the 22-member Arab League in calling for action in Libya, without which “it would probably have been difficult to get the international community to do something.”

“Even the Americans were in a bit of a position of waiting, of wait-and-see.”

As for Germany, which along with four other countries abstained from the UN Security Council vote, Baroin said “we were already disappointed at the Council of Europe not to see Germany join us with the British in this action.”

“But… what counts is what was done last night,” he said. “I’m not sure, given the positions of Kadhafi and his son Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, that anything can make these terrorist and bloodthirsty dictators see reason.”

No-fly zone

The UN Security Council Thursday voted to permit “all necessary measures” to impose a no-fly zone, protect civilian areas and impose a ceasefire on Gadhafi’s military. Enforcement will rely on air power as the resolution rules out sending ground troops.

Celebratory gunfire immediately rang out across Libya’s main rebel-held city of Benghazi. Tracer bullets streaked across the night sky as preachers at mosques shouted “God is greatest!” over loudspeakers.

“This resolution demands an immediate ceasefire and a complete end to violence and attacks against civilians,” the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said.

“The security council has authorized the use of force, including enforcement of a no-fly zone to protect civilians and civilian areas targeted by Colonel Gadhafi, his intelligence and security forces and his mercenaries,” Rice said.

No mercy

Gadhafi vowed earlier that his troops would take Benghazi within hours.

“The decision has been taken. Prepare yourselves. We will arrive tonight,” Gadhafi said on state television. “Show them no mercy. The world needs to see Benghazi free.”

His defense ministry, meanwhile, warned that foreign assaults on Libya would trigger retaliation putting “all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean” in danger.

The UN vote passed 10-0 with five abstentions in the 15 member council. Permanent members China and Russia were among those abstaining, but did not use their veto power. Germany also abstained.

Diplomats have indicated that air strikes from a coalition led by Britain, France and the United States – but also including some Arab countries – could now be imminent.

“We have very little time left. It is a matter of days. Perhaps it is a matter of hours,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said at the United Nations. “We should not arrive too late.”

Juppe said the world had to act to support Libya, following peaceful revolts against authoritarian leaders across the Arab world.

“The world is living one of its great revolutions that changes the course of history,” he said. “In Libya, alas, for a number of weeks the people’s will has been shot down to its feet by Colonel Gadhafi.”

Military coalition

A UN diplomat who asked not to be identified said that Qatar and United Arab Emirates could be among the Arab nations to join a military coalition.

However, countries abstaining in the UN vote warned of an open-ended conflict that could undermine stability across the oil-rich region.

“There is a need to avoid such destabilizing developments,” the Russian ambassador said, calling the resolution “most unfortunate.”

Germany’s ambassador foresaw “great risks. The likelihood of large-scale loss of life should not be underestimated. If the steps proposed turn out to be ineffective, we see the danger of being drawn into a protracted military conflict that would affect the wider region.”

The UN vote set the stage for a dramatic widening of the war between Gadhafi and rag-tag rebel forces seeking the veteran strongman’s overthrow.

The Libyan defense ministry warned that “any military operation against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean to danger.”

“Any civilian or military moving traffic will be the target of a Libyan counter-offensive,” the official Jana news agency quoted the defense ministry spokesman as saying.

On the ground around Benghazi tensions mounted with rebel commanders ordering fighters to man artillery and missile batteries against the expected onslaught by government forces.

Change in tactics

However, CNN reported that one of Gadhafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam, had announced a change in tactics following the UN vote.

“He said they’re going to change the tactics around Benghazi, that the army is not going to go into Benghazi. It’s going to take up positions around the stronghold,” the CNN correspondent.

Amid conflicting claims, state television said loyalists were on the outskirts of Benghazi.

Allibya television said “the town of Zuwaytinah is under control (of loyalists) and armed forces are on the outskirts of Benghazi.”

But a rebel spokesman told AFP by telephone: “The Gadhafi forces tried to carry out an air raid on the city but our anti-aircraft defenses repulsed the offensive and two planes were shot down.”

Libyan television also said loyalists had overrun the rebel bastion of Misrata, 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Tripoli. This was denied by a rebel spokesman.

“We still control the city, even its outskirts. Gadhafi is mobilizing his forces a few kilometers away,” the spokesman said by phone.