"Britain will deploy Tornadoes and Typhoons as well as air-to-air refueling and surveillance aircraft," Prime Minister
David Cameron... British PM Cameron describes himself as a
modern compassionate conservativeand has spoken of a need for a new style of politics that doesn't involve calling people names. He has stated that he is
certainly a big Thatcher fan, but I don't know whether that makes me a Thatcherite,which means he's probably not. He has also claimed to be a
liberal Conservative, and
a very tall short person. Since he is not
deeply ideologicalhe lacks core principles and is easily led. He has urged politicians to concentrate on improving people's happiness and
general well-being, instead of focusing solely on
financial wealth, which is easy for a stockbroker's kid to say. Ask him to lend you ten quid and see how that works out. He has been described as
certainly not a Pitt, Elder or Younger, but he does wear a nice suit so maybe he's Beau Brummel ...
told parliament.
"Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action."
Italy said it would make seven military bases available along with equipment and troops, and Naples could be the coordination center.
Italy has a decent air force. Are they participating?
Denmark and Canada said they planned to contribute warplanes. La Belle France was to host talks on Saturday to discuss the action with British, Arab League and other leaders including 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 Gray Eminence...
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said after a meeting of alliance ambassadors that NATO was "completing its planning in order to be ready to take appropriate action ... as part of the broad international effort."
Despite the cease-fire announcement, people in Misrata said the city was under heavy bombardment by Qadaffy's forces.
"They are bombing everything, houses, mosques and even ambulances," Gemal, a rebel front man, told Rooters by phone from the last big rebel stronghold in the west.
Another rebel named Saadoun said: "We believe they want to enter the city at any cost before the international community starts implementing the UN resolution.
"We call on the international community to do something before it's too late. They must act now."
A British-based doctor who said he had spoken to his contacts in Misrata after 1600 GMT described the situation there as "very, very dire."
"There is no cease-fire," he said. "Yesterday there was celebration after the UN vote, even by ordinary people, they don't want the regime any more. But those guys are basically fighting with sticks against anti-aircraft guns. .... There is no choice but to fight for them."
Al Arabiya also said the rebel-held western town of Zintan was attacked by rockets on Friday. The fighting reports could not be independently confirmed. Authorities were preventing Tripoli-based foreign journalists om reporting freely.
In rebel-controlled Tobruk in the east, there was scorn for the cease-fire call. On Thursday, Qadaffy had vowed "no mercy and no pity."
"See how things change from night to day," said Ashraf Afgair. "They are just trying to calm international opinion. It's a desperate attempt by Qadaffy to cling to power."
But Qadaffy's troops did not fulfil his threat to overrun the rebel base of Benghazi overnight after their rapid counter-offensive brought them to within 100 km (60 miles) of the eastern city.