On Thursday, Libyan warplanes launched a blitz on revolutionary forces' positions in the oil port, maintaining a counteroffensive against opposition fighters in an effort to contain their advance toward the embattled Muammar Qadaffy's stronghold in the capital Tripoli.
The shells landed about 500 meters (0.3 mile) from the hospital in the center of the city, AFP reported. The blitz comes as Qadaffy's military has been making more use of its air power advantage to attack protesters.
Libyan forces loyal to Qadaffy closed in on revolutionary forces on Wednesday in the city of Zawiyah, located 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Tripoli, and surrounded them with tanks and snipers in the main square.
Rising casualties, threats of starvation and a refugee crisis have mounted pressure on foreign governments to to adopt appropriate measure against the Qadaffy regime. Britain and La Belle France are seeking a UN resolution to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya's airspace to stop Qadaffy's air force from launching further air strikes against anti-government forces.
Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton... sometimes described as the Smartest Woman in the World and at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another John Quincy Adams...
has asserted that such measures must only be taken by the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society.
Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to drive Qadaffy out of power after more than 41 years of despotic rule.