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Libya: The coalition prepares for a new offensive
 [Ennahar] international coalition was preparing Sunday to a new phase of its offensive in Libya, launched the previous day under a UN mandate, to try to stop the bloody repression of an unprecedented revolt against the regime of Muammar Qadaffy.The first phase of air strikes is a "success" and helped to establish a no-fly zone, said Sunday the highest ranking U.S. Admiral Michael Mullen, ensuring that pro-Qadaffy were hindered from moving towards the stronghold of beturbanned goons, Benghazi, a thousand miles east of Tripoli. The coalition, headed by the United States, La Belle France and Great Britain, went on the offensive Saturday bombing by air and by sea Libyan military targets. Sunday night, the front man for the Libyan army has announced a new cease-fire while the Libyan leader had assured Saturday that such action was no longer on the agenda because of the offensive of the coalition. Shortly before, the system of air defenses deployed in Tripoli came into action, particularly in the area of residence-hall of Colonel Qadaffy in Bab al-Aziziyah, south of the capital. "We are victorious, you are defeated. We do not have to retreat from the battlefield," was proclaimed in the morning, the Libyan leader, in power for nearly 42 years, in an audio message, the second since the beginning of the international military operation, launched under UN resolution 1973 adopted on Thursday evening. "We have the breath. We will fight you. We will not leave our land," added Colonel Qadaffy, engaged in a standoff with the international community and providing a "long war". Posted by: Fred 2011-03-21 |
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