LIBYAN LEADER Muammar Gadafy came under renewed pressure last night as a coalition of western and Arab nations prepared for possible air strikes against his regime.
The French government said air strikes could be mounted at any moment. French foreign minister Alain Juppé said last night that “everything is ready” for a military intervention.
US president Barack Obama warned Col Gadafy of military action unless he met specific, “non-negotiable” demands for a ceasefire, halted attacks on civilians and retreated from rebel strongholds.
“Left unchecked, we have every reason to believe that Gadafy would commit atrocities against his people,” Mr Obama said. “Many thousands could die. A humanitarian crisis would ensue.”
Earlier yesterday, the Libyan regime declared a ceasefire but the move was greeted with derision by rebels who pointed out that Col Gadafy’s forces continued to attack Misurata, located east of the capital Tripoli, and other rebel-held cities after claiming he would end the fighting.
“This is Gadafy up to his usual tricks,” said one Libyan at the border. “It’s a delaying tactic to confuse the situation.” US secretary of state Hillary Clinton was also dismissive. “We are going to be not responsive or impressed by words,” she said. “We would have to see actions on the ground – and that is not yet clear. We will continue to work with our partners in the international community to press Gadafy to leave.”
The next stage of the international response will be co-ordinated at an emergency conference in Paris today.
Ms Clinton, German chancellor Angela Merkel and British prime minister David Cameron are due to attend, as are UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, European council president Herman Van Rompuy and officials from the Arab League and African Union.
Mr Juppé said last night that the Paris summit would be an opportunity to analyse Col Gadafy’s ceasefire declaration and “draw the consequences”.
Denmark and Canada have announced that they plan to contribute aircraft. Four Arab states – Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates – are expected to play a supporting role.
Mr Cameron said he had already ordered British Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets to be deployed to bases in the region, along with air-refuelling equipment.
In his speech Mr Obama did not specify the exact role that Washington would play in the operation, beyond enabling its European and Arab partners to “effectively” impose a no-fly zone to protect civilians.
He was adamant, however, that US ground troops would not be deployed to Libya, and repeatedly stressed that Washington would not act alone. “Our goal is focused, our cause is just, and our coalition is strong,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Libyan opposition reiterated it would not back down from its demand that Col Gadafy step down as leader and leave the country even if a ceasefire is implemented. – (Additional reporting: Ruadhán Mac Cormaic in Paris)