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UNITED NATIONS—With UN blessings, a coalition of Western nations geared up on Friday to launch quick air strikes on Libya after its leader Moammar Gadhafi vowed in harrowing terms to crush the rebellion against him with “no mercy, no pity.”
Hours after the UN Security Council authorized “all necessary measures” to stop Gadhafi—including strikes by sea and air—Libya announced on Friday an immediate ceasefire in the monthlong battle against rebels, saying it was complying with UN demands.
“Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and an immediate halt to all military operations,” Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa said. He said that Libya, as a UN member, was “obliged to accept the UN Security Council’s resolutions.”
Earlier, speaking in an interview with Portuguese television broadcast just before the vote at the UN, Gadhafi pledged to respond harshly to UN-sponsored attacks.
“If the world is crazy,” he said, “we will be crazy, too.” He warned: “We will turn their lives into hell.”
A French government spokesperson said the strikes would come “rapidly … within a few hours,” and French sources said the Western-led attacks could include one or more Arab countries.
The United States, Britain and France were expected to scramble fighter jets against Gadhafi’s forces. But a US official said no immediate US action was expected.
Europe’s air traffic agency banned civilian flights from Libyan air space while British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would deploy Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets as well as air-to-air refueling and surveillance aircraft.
Gulf state Qatar said it would take part but it was unclear whether that meant military help, while Denmark said it planned to contribute warplanes.
The three military powers—US, Britain and France —could be joined by Canada, which according to Canadian media planned to deploy six CF-18 fighter jets.
Norway said it would take part in the operation and Denmark awaited parliament approval before joining the action with F-16 warplanes. Poland offered logistical support but no role in a military strike force.
Belgium said it was ready to intervene under the Nato umbrella, with six F-16 jets and a frigate.
Germany warns of risks
But Germany, which abstained from the UN voting, warned of “considerable risks and dangers,” and insisted no German troops would participate in military intervention.
The UN resolution, approved with the backing of the United States, France and Britain, imposed a no-fly zone over Libya and authorized force short of a ground offensive to protect its people from Gadhafi’s forces.
The UN action bans all flights in Libyan airspace in order to protect civilians. While it was unclear how the West might proceed, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said earlier in the day that a no-fly zone would require bombing targets inside Libya, including some of its defense systems.
US officials, speaking after a closed-door briefing in Congress, said they expected an attempt to ground Gadhafi’s Air Force could begin by Sunday or Monday and would probably involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft.
‘Don’t betray me’
Gadhafi, calling in to Libyan television on Thursday, said his forces would “rescue” the people of Benghazi, the Mediterranean port city that has become the capital and staging ground for the opposition.
For those who resist, Gadhafi said, there would be “no mercy or compassion.”
“This is your happy day, we will destroy your enemies,” he said, warning the people of Benghazi not to stand alongside the opposition. “Prepare for this moment to get rid of the traitors. Tomorrow we will show the world, to see if the city is one of traitors or heroes.”
“Don’t betray me, my beloved Benghazi,” he said.
“We will come. House by house, room by room,” Gadhafi also said in a radio address to Benghazi late on Thursday.
Gadhafi’s ground forces were still about 130 kilometers south of the city on Thursday evening Libya time, so it was unclear whether they would move on the city as quickly as he suggested.
‘Gadhafi must go’
At the UN headquarters in New York, the vote was 10-0. The United States, France and Britain had all pushed for speedy approval.
“We had said all along that Gadhafi must go,” said British Foreign Secretary William Hague. “It is necessary to take these measures to avoid greater bloodshed.”
Five nations abstained, including Russia and China, which hold veto power on the council.
In Washington, officials said the Obama administration was readying plans to enforce the no-fly zone. The French prime minister said before the measure was passed that his nation would support military action within hours. Several Arab nations were expected to provide backup.
“Today the Security Council has responded to the Libyan people’s cry for help,” said Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN.
US warships
The United States already has warships positioned near Libya. After eight hours of closed-door talks on Wednesday, Rice said a no-fly zone now was not enough, saying it has “inherent limitations in terms of protection of civilians at immediate risk.”
French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office issued a one-sentence statement saying he and Obama had spoken by phone about the resolution. Obama also spoke with Cameron.
Western countries have significant military assets near Libya, including carriers in the Mediterranean, a large US air base in Italy and a large British air presence on the island of Cyprus.
In addition, allied Arab countries such as Jordan and Oman have planes and pilots often trained by the US, and American officials have made clear they want active involvement by Arab countries if any action is taken.
The UN resolution specifically bans a ground offensive against Libya.
Cheering in Benghazi
A large crowd in Benghazi was watching the vote on an outdoor TV projection and burst into cheers, with green and red fireworks exploding overhead. In Tobruk, east of Benghazi, happy Libyans fired weapons in the air to celebrate the vote.
Speaking to reporters in Tripoli after the vote, Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Kaim struck a more conciliatory tone, offering to negotiate a ceasefire with the rebels. He welcomed the Security Council’s concern for the people of Libya but called on the world not to allow them to receive weapons.
“If countries do that, they will be inviting Libyans to kill each other,” he said.
The shift toward international action reflected dramatic change on the ground in Libya in the past week.
The rebels, once confident, found themselves in danger of being crushed by an overpowering pro-Gadhafi force using rockets, artillery, tanks and warplanes. That force has advanced along the Mediterranean coast aiming to recapture the rebel-held eastern half of Libya.
Gadhafi troops encircled the city of Ajdabiya, the first in the path of their march, but also had some troops positioned beyond it toward Benghazi.
By Thursday afternoon, Gadhafi’s Army was holding the southern, eastern and western outskirts of Ajdabiya.
The unrest in Libya began Feb. 15 in the eastern city of Benghazi and spread east to Tripoli, the capital. Like others in the Mideast, the protest started with popular demonstrations against Gadhafi, rejecting his four decades of despotic and often brutal rule. The tone quickly changed after Gadhafi’s security in Tripoli forcefully put down the gatherings there. Reports from AP, AFP and Reuters
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