A delegation of Libyan rebels from the Transitional National Council have met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and called for Western powers to assassinate the country’s President, Muammar Gaddafi.
A spokesperson for the Benghazi-based rebels, Mustafa Gheriani, told media in Paris on Monday that the group wanted “a no-fly zone, we want tactical strikes against those tanks and rockets that are being used against us, and we want a strike against Gaddafi’s compound,” said Gheriani. “This is the message from our delegation in Europe.”
Other rebel leaders in France include Abdul-Jalil, previously Gadaffi’s justice minister who resigned in protest against “excessive use of force” against demonstrators, Abdel-Hafiz Ghoqa, a representative for Benghazi and a human-rights lawyer, and Omar Al Hariri, a former general now in charge of the rebellion’s military affairs who was responsible for teaching Gadaffi to drive.
Gaddafi’s forces, including foreign mercenaries and the airforce, have pushed the Libyan rebels back to the town of Ajdarbia, the last occupied town before the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
Early gains by the rebels saw them capture key oil centres such as Ras Lanuf in the confusion as elements of the regime’s military defected. However now the government’s forces have stabilised and begun to push back, the disorganised and ill-disciplined rebel fighters have been unable to contend with Gaddafi’s tanks and apparent enthusiasm to use air-strikes against his own population.
Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed today joined earlier calls from the Arab League for the UN Security Council to fulfill its obligations and impose a no-fly zone in Libya.
“Through its own actions, the Gadaffi regime has lost its legitimacy and right to govern,” President Nasheed said.
“Following the Gaddafi regime’s loss of legitimacy, at the present time the Transitional National Council has emerged as the only legitimate body representing the aspirations of the Libyan people. The international community, led by the UN, must therefore immediately open channels of communication with the Transitional National Council.”
Imposing a no-fly-zone would most likely involve US intervention under the banner of NATO. US generals, cautious given the country’s controversial history of intervention in the region, have pointed out that policing the no-fly zone would require strikes against Libyan surface-to-air weapon systems and amount to military intervention.
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Can we send a few cases of Tuna to the rebels .... goes well with dates ...
The tongue is a rope by which many a man hang themselves with.
It is better for the Libyans to be under the dictator Gaddafi's rule than those rebels. Te rebels are extremely religious and violent minded. If they come into power, libya would be another state like that of afghanistan under taliban rule. The EU knows this well and is the main reason why no on ein EU is really backing to put harsh sanctions or war on libya. Sarkopzy is the only loofer in EU who has not realised this. Gaddafi is not the best, but atleast better than those rebels who knows nothing else other than extreme religion and guns. Guys think about this !!!
Who the hell we Maldivians are trying to show off to the world and getting a microscopic piece from the UN, and trying bring Muammar Gaddafi down.
I do not support Gaddafi and support the the genuine citizens who want to bring him down for the sake of peace and democracy. But why are we little people trying to get into the front line? The motives of the west is not to help Libyan people, they just want their oil.
So why cant we just stay out of it. If you want to bring piece to Libyans, then get involved with the arabs, and don't follow the zionists.
we are only doing it for a show and we won't get a good impression from most of the muslims around the world.
Ibrahim Yasir, how do you know this?
Unfortunately our president trying to smart acting like a nerd. he should read 'International Foreign Relations for Dummies'.
Maldiviens shud send r own air force, cuz our militiree iz 1 of bestt traind in da wurld, wheech iz y even da zionists r sending Mossad pplz prtending az doctrz tu steal r secrets., and we are ready to take more prominant role on world stage. Insha'allah, we cud hav dhivehi Khaleefaa, if vatican were not allwayz tryin to convertz uz, and keeping down r greatness. We haf Munafiq traitorz az well, who I think work for CIA and Pope. We cud help our brotherz nd sisterz in Libya