Allied Warplanes Patrol Libyan Skies
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says allied warplanes are flying over Libya to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians in the city of Benghazi, where forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi have been bearing down on rebels trying to bring down his government.
U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed a short time later that the United States has joined a coalition with its European and Arab partners to take action in Libya.
Obama spoke to reporters during his visit to Brazil. He said the allied coalition's "resolve is clear," and that all members are "prepared to act with urgency."
Sarkozy announced the military action Saturday in Paris, where representatives of the U.N., European Union, Arab and Western powers gathered for an emergency summit on the Libyan crisis.
President Sarkozy said the leaders agreed to use all necessary means - including military force - to carry out a U.N. Security Council resolution approved on Thursday. The Council declared a no-fly zone over Libya and specifically authorized world powers to use "all measures necessary" to protect civilians.
Sarkozy said world powers were intervening so the Libyan people can "choose their destiny," but he added there is still time for Gadhafi to heed the demands of the international community.
Earlier Saturday, pro-government forces in Libya advanced against rebels on two fronts. Insurgents in their eastern stronghold of Benghazi said government loyalists had been pushing forward in apparent disregard of the cease-fire Gadhafi declared on Friday. The rebels also say military units loyal to Gadhafi shot down one of their planes over the city.
There were also reports of fighting south of Benghazi in Adjabiya as well as in Misrata, a rebel-held city in western Libya near Tripoli.
Gadhafi sent urgent messages to world leaders Saturday, including U.S. President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In a letter read to reporters by a government spokesman in Tripoli, Gadhafi noted the rebels had seized control of Benghazi, and asked rhetorically how Obama would "behave" if there was a similar situation in the United States.
Addressing the U.N. secretary-general, Gadhafi said the Security Council's resolution on Libya is "invalid," and predicted that any Western action against Libya would be seen as "clear aggression."
Separately, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa held a news conference from Tripoli on Saturday. He said his government is abiding by the cease-fire it announced earlier.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed a short time later that the United States has joined a coalition with its European and Arab partners to take action in Libya.
Obama spoke to reporters during his visit to Brazil. He said the allied coalition's "resolve is clear," and that all members are "prepared to act with urgency."
Sarkozy announced the military action Saturday in Paris, where representatives of the U.N., European Union, Arab and Western powers gathered for an emergency summit on the Libyan crisis.
President Sarkozy said the leaders agreed to use all necessary means - including military force - to carry out a U.N. Security Council resolution approved on Thursday. The Council declared a no-fly zone over Libya and specifically authorized world powers to use "all measures necessary" to protect civilians.
Sarkozy said world powers were intervening so the Libyan people can "choose their destiny," but he added there is still time for Gadhafi to heed the demands of the international community.
Earlier Saturday, pro-government forces in Libya advanced against rebels on two fronts. Insurgents in their eastern stronghold of Benghazi said government loyalists had been pushing forward in apparent disregard of the cease-fire Gadhafi declared on Friday. The rebels also say military units loyal to Gadhafi shot down one of their planes over the city.
There were also reports of fighting south of Benghazi in Adjabiya as well as in Misrata, a rebel-held city in western Libya near Tripoli.
Gadhafi sent urgent messages to world leaders Saturday, including U.S. President Barack Obama and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. In a letter read to reporters by a government spokesman in Tripoli, Gadhafi noted the rebels had seized control of Benghazi, and asked rhetorically how Obama would "behave" if there was a similar situation in the United States.
Addressing the U.N. secretary-general, Gadhafi said the Security Council's resolution on Libya is "invalid," and predicted that any Western action against Libya would be seen as "clear aggression."
Separately, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa held a news conference from Tripoli on Saturday. He said his government is abiding by the cease-fire it announced earlier.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
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