THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Arab League called on the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone on Libya, increasing pressure on Europe and the US to embark on limited military action against the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
As Colonel Gaddafi’s jets and tanks continued to gain ground against rebels in the east of the country, ministers from the 22-nation League agreed to call for action after emergency talks in Cairo. Officials said the body had already been in touch with the rebels about the situation on the ground.
Before the meeting, Amr Moussa, the secretary general of the Arab League and one of its most influential diplomats, had thrown his weight behind the air exclusion zone, saying it was the only way to protect Libyans from Gaddafi’s “disdainful” regime.
In a statement after a six-hour long meeting, he added: “The Arab League has officially requested the United Nations Security Council to impose a no-fly zone against any military action against the Libyan people.”
His comments came as the Gaddafi regime declared victory in the battle for the oil port of Ras Lanuf in eastern Libya, where it had fought with artillery, tanks, ships and planes to eject rebels for most of the last week[.] >>> Colin Freeman in Cairo, Nick Meo in Benghazi and Patrick Hennessy in London | Saturday, March 12, 2011
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Libya: as Colonel Gaddafi's tanks roll eastwards, rebels are defiant but fear a bloody revenge – Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's planes, tanks and artillery are gradually taking their toll on the rebels. They are defiant, but fear a bloody revenge if the West does not intervene. >>> Nick Meo, in Benghazi and Richard Spencer in Tripoli | Saturday, March 12, 2011
THE GUARDIAN: Gaddafi's army will kill half a million, warn Libyan rebels: Rebels flee Ras Lanuf and call on UN to impose no-fly zone as Gaddafi's forces recapture strategically important towns >>> Chris McGreal in Benghazi | Saturday, March 12, 2011
