Rebels seek ‘no-fly’ zone, to attack Tripoli
March 4: Rebels vowing “victory or death” clashed with Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s forces near a key oil terminal and gunfire rang out in the capital as the Opposition protesters gathered on Friday in the strongman’s last bastion.
Eastern-based rebels said they were open to talks only on Col. Gaddafi’s exile or resignation following attacks on civilians that have provoked international condemnation, a raft of arms and economic sanctions and a war crime probe.
Mr Abdullah al-Mahdi, a rebel spokesman, told Al Jazeera television that the Opposition fighters would attack the capital once a “no-fly” zone was enforced by international powers to try to shatter Col. Gaddafi’s grip on the North African oil producer.
Western nations have called for Col. Gaddafi to go and are considering various options including the imposition of a no-fly zone, but are wary about any offensive military involvement to stabilise the world’s 12th-largest oil exporter.
In Tripoli, a convoy of 14 sports utility vehicles carrying security forces sped through a checkpoint heading into an area of the capital where demonstrators had staged a protest against Col. Gaddafi’s 41-year-old rule.
“They fired teargas. I heard shooting. People are scattering,” a reporter said from the Tajoura district in the east of the capital. In the east, rebels advanced calling for foreign airstrikes to set up a no-fly zone after the attacks by government jets.
Post new comment