Colonel Muammar Gaddafi yesterday unleashed his fiercest attack yet on rebels challenging his rule, increasing pressure on the West to agree measures to help the opposition at military and political summits this week.
As Libya descended towards civil war, 50 of Colonel Gaddafi’s tanks were reported to have rumbled into Zawiya and opened fire.
It was unclear last night whether the rebel-held town 30 miles west of Tripoli — which has withstood numerous assaults in the past two weeks — had finally fallen. Residents spoke, however, of terrible carnage and destruction. “Zawiya has been torn down to ashes,” said one. “The city is in ruins,” said another. “Some buildings have been entirely destroyed and everyone on the street is shot on sight. There are many wounded.”
Some witnesses said that the regime had used airstrikes as well, but it was impossible to verify the claims because the military has encircled the town of 200,000, cut off its telephone services and thwarted repeated efforts by journalists to get in. The Geneva Convention requires armed forces to avoid excessive civilian casualties.
In the east, the military attacked the key oil town of Ras Lanuf, captured by rebels late last week, with similar intensity. Warplanes launched at least four airstrikes against targets that included a residential building, and heavy artillery shelled the rebels’ front line a few miles west of the town.
Advertisement
“People are dying out there. Gaddafi’s forces have rockets and tanks. You see this? This is no good,” Abdel Salem Mohamed, 21, said of his light machinegun.
Kamal Sheikh, another rebel fighter, said: “Gaddafi is a madman. He’s raining fire down on us but we are human beings. We are Libyans. They are shooting anybody.”
Zawiya and Ras Lanuf would be valuable prizes for Colonel Gaddafi as he battles to crush the uprising that looked likely to end his 41-year rule only a few days ago. The fall of Zawiya would allow him to redeploy forces to the rebel-held east, notably the elite 32nd Brigade led by his fifth son, Khamis. Recapturing Ras Lanuf would prevent the rebels advancing on Sirte, his home town, which guards the coastal highway to the capital itself.
However, his growing use of force against his own people will increase the pressure for action as world leaders prepare for key meetings over the next few days. President Obama and David Continued from page 1
Cameron agreed last night to plan a “full spectrum” of action, including a possible no-fly zone, surveillance and a relief effort. The Prime Minister warned that the world could not “stand aside” and allow Colonel Gaddafi to use violence against ordinary Libyans.
Advertisement
Britain and France are drafting a United Nations resolution calling for the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya, which will be debated by Nato defence ministers in Brussels tomorrow. But William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, accepted there were many hurdles before one could be implemented. “It has to have a clear legal basis, demonstrable need, strong international support and broad support in the region and a readiness to participate in it,” he said.
Nato has expanded its monitoring of Libyan airspace by surveillance aircraft from about ten hours a day to twenty-four to monitor the regime’s use of air attacks. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Secretary-General, said that he “could not imagine . . . standing idly by” if such attacks continued. Francesco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister, is also calling for a naval blockade to prevent the regime importing arms and a mass exodus of immigrants to Southern Europe.
EU members reached an agreement in principle on further sanctions before a summit on Friday. These will freeze all European investments of the $70 billion Libyan Investment Authority, which include stakes in the publisher Pearson and Juventus Football Club.
On Saturday the Arab League will discuss calls by Gulf states for the imposition of a no-fly zone and other measures to protect the Libyan people.
The regime’s deployment of such massive force yesterday cast doubt on reports that Colonel Gaddafi had sent the rebels an offer to step down provided that he and his family were granted immunity from prosecution and allowed to keep their money.
Advertisement
Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for the rebels’ National Libyan Council, said: “There are no discussions. There are no negotiations with the regime.”
Abdel Jalil Mustapha, the head of the opposition National Council, said: “We are of course with ending the bloodshed, but first he has to resign and then he has to leave and then we won’t pursue him criminally.”