Libya Cease-Fire Not Stopping Gaddafi
John Steele
Mar 18, 2011, 14:15
Despite the announcement of a Libyan cease-fire in effect across the
nation, ousted Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi continued campaigns
against rebel forces. Gaddafi's loyal soldiers bombarded the rebel-held
city of Misrata on Friday with tanks and heavy artillery, killing at
least 25 people, residents said.
According to Reuters, Libyan residents reported that shells and tank
rounds were still clobbering the countryside after the Libyan Foreign
Minister's 12:30 GMT announcement of a nationwide ceasefire.
'Gaddafi's forces are bombing the city with artillery shells and tanks.
We now have 25 people dead at the hospital, including several little
girls,' Dr Khaled Abou Selha told Reuters Friday.
After the announcement, President Obama took to the podium at the White
House, announcing that the U.S. would support a U.N.-backed no-fly-zone
over the country. Obama made it clear that, while joining the
international community enforcing sanctions against Gaddafi and other
violators of the peace agreement, no ground troops would be deployed.
There should be no doubt about the Libyan leader's intentions 'because
he has made them clear,' Mr. Obama said. 'Just yesterday, speaking of
the city of Benghazi, a city of roughly 700,000, he threatened 'we will
have no mercy and no pity.' No mercy on his own citizens.'
In a move to try and out-maneuver international intervention, Gaddafi
announced his own cease-fire but appears to have violated it. In a joint
statement to Gadhafi late Friday, the United States, Britain
and France � backed by unspecified Arab countries � said a cease-fire
must begin "immediately" in Libya, the French presidential palace said.
Source: Reuters
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