News / Middle East

Air Strikes Hit Libya As Diplomats Consider Options

Smoke rises from an area in southeast Tripoli, Libya,  April 14, 2011
Smoke rises from an area in southeast Tripoli, Libya, April 14, 2011
TEXT SIZE - +

Witnesses in Libya say a series of explosions rocked the Tripoli area on Thursday shortly after NATO warplanes flew overhead.

Meanwhile, rebels have warned of what they call a "massacre" in the western city of Misrata unless NATO provides them more support against government forces.

A rebel spokesman said at least 23 people were killed in attacks by forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi near Misrata Thursday.

In Washington, State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. remains confident in NATO's ability to oversee air operations in Libya.  He commented after France asked for the United States to resume air raids.

France made the request on Thursday at a NATO meeting in Berlin.  However, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen told alliance members that their forces have maintained a "high operational tempo" against legitimate targets in Libya.  He also said NATO needs more high-precision attack aircraft for the mission.  

Another conference about Libya was held in Cairo.  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the African and Arab and European delegates attending that meeting had agreed on a unified approach to finding a "lasting solution" to Libya's turmoil.  

The talks in Berlin and Cairo took place a day after an international contact group of U.S., European and Arab partners pledged more monetary and political support for the Libyan opposition at a meeting in Doha.   In its final statement, the group called on Mr. Gadhafi to leave power, saying he and his government had "lost all legitimacy."

In Brussels, the European Union announced Thursday that it has removed former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa from a sanctions list, in an apparent bid to entice other Libyan officials to break ranks with the government. Koussa is the most senior official to flee Libya.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

You May Like

Video Star Trek Influence Lives Long and Prospers

As new movie thrills, many are once again discussing the iconic franchise's influence on society, science and technology More

OECD: Developing Green Cities Key to Sustainable Future

OECD suggests strategies to mitigate rapid growth, industrialization in urban centers, which produce about two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions More

Video Safe Rooms Saved Lives in Tornado Disaster

Safety experts say more safe rooms are needed in areas where tornadoes frequently strike More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Volunteers Help Revive LA's Concrete River

The Los Angeles River is a concrete drainage channel through much of its 80-kilometer length. It channels waste-water from storm drains and has become a receptacle for much of the city's trash. But as Mike O'Sullivan reports, the river is slowly being restored with the help of volunteers, who take part in an annual clean-up.