Thursday, April 14, 2011

Gaddafi 4x4

Gaddafi Defiant As Nato Strikes Target Tripoli

20 mins ago
SkyNews (c) Sky News 2011
A fresh wave of airstrikes has hit targets in Tripoli as the head of Nato said military action will continue in Libya as long as civilians are "in harm's way".Skip related content
Libyan state television claims to have broadcast footage of Muammar Gaddafi driving around Tripoli in an open-top 4x4 shortly after the attacks.
The Libyan leader was wearing a green safari hat, dark glasses and a black jacket - and could be seen pumping his fists in the air and waving.
Large explosions have been heard in the capital and anti-aircraft fire followed.
Earlier there were reports of further assaults by Gaddafi forces on the city of Misratah - with rebels saying that at least 20 civilians had been killed in a rocket attack.
The latest air strikes come on the first of a two-day Nato meeting in Berlin where foreign ministers are discussing the crisis.
Hillary Clinton assured allies that Washington is prepared to do what it takes to ensure the success of the mission.
But the US Secretary of State called on US partners in Europe and elsewhere to boost pressure on Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi to step down from power.


Free Libya Now
SkyNews video shows Gadafi touring Tripoli, min 2.30 shows a young man hanging on to the side of the car falling  

Mrs Clinton has sought to smooth over cracks in the alliance amid calls from Britain and France for Nato members to increase support for action against Libyan forces.
Only six nations of the 28-state alliance have undertaken offensive action, with some countries offering logistical support amid others refusing to take part in regime overthrow.
As Nato met, a spokesman for the anti-Gaddafi rebels warned of an impending massacre in the besieged western city of Misratah.
The rebels said 23 civilians were killed in a rocket attack on a residential area on Thursday - and have called for more airstrikes.
Prime Minister David Cameron, in Paris on Thursday for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, described the situation in Misratah as "appalling".
Despite calls for more help from Nato, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the supreme commander, US Admiral James Stavridis, was generally content with the forces at his disposal but needed "a few more precision ground attack aircraft".
Mr Rasmussen said the alliance and its partners "are fully engaged in operations to safeguard the people of Libya, taking every measure possible to prevent Gaddafi's brutal and systematic attacks".
Posted by Robby Ball at 9:54 AM