US fighter jet Strike Eagle F-15 crashes in Libya

Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 17:47 [IST]Benghazi (Libya), Mar 22: United States military said on Tuesday, Mar 22 that its Air Force fighter jet, F-15 Strike Eagle, crashed in Libya during the air strikes.

US military officials added that the both crew members ejected safely and one of them was recovered. Special mission was launched to recover the other pilot. Some sources reported that recovered pilot with minor injuries was rescued by rebel Libyan soldiers.

A spokesman for the Africa Command, Vince Crawley said that crash was happened due to a mechanical failure and it was "not due to enemy or hostile actions". He refused to give more details on the crash as the second crew member is still missing.

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India regrets air strikes over Libya

New Delhi, Mar 21: Regretting air strikes over Libya, India today called upon all parties to abjure use of violence saying the need of the hour was "cessation of armed conflict" in the North African country.

"We view with grave concern the ongoing violence, strikes and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya. We regret the air strikes that are taking place," External Affairs Minister SM Krishna told reporters here.

"India calls upon all parties to abjure violence and the use of threat and force to resolve the differences. I think the need of the hour is cessation of armed conflict," he added.

The Minister said India believes that all parties and stakeholders should engage themselves in a peaceful dialogue through United Nations and other regional organisations and come to a settlement.

Krishna said the "air strikes will lead to harm to innocent civilians, foreign nationals and diplomatic missions and their personnel, who are still in Libya."

On whether India was talking to the countries involved in attacking Libyan military targets, the Minister said, "At various levels, India, where its voice counts, we have taken it up and continue to exert whatever influence we have on the international fora to prevent further escalation of violence and conflict in Libya." "But at the same time, respecting the aspirations of the people of Libya," he added.

Forces of countries including France, the US and Britain yesterday started aerial operations against Libyan defence targets with cruise missiles and launched air attacks as Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to open his arms depots to the people to retaliate against the Western "aggression".

On whether the Government was taking any steps to protect Indians in countries such as Bahrain and Yemen, Krishna said, "The welfare and well being of Indians in these countries (Bahrain, Yemen) is uppermost in our agenda. We are closely monitoring developments in these countries."

"As and when the developments take place and as and when we feel it is no longer safe for Indians to continue there, then we will take the necessary followup action," he added.

PTI

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Libya a warning to Mideast authoritarians: Ban

Cairo, Mar 21: The Libya war and revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia should be a warning to authoritarian leaders in the Middle East and North Africa still ordering forces to shoot demonstrators, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said.

Ban, who has castigated the king of Bahrain and strongly condemned the repression of demonstrations in Yemen and Syria in recent days, told AFP as he began a trip to Egypt and Tunisia today that other nations have a duty to speak out.

"It is clear that a wind of change is sweeping this region," he said in an interview.

"The international community, while we closely follow the situation, has a responsibility to help those people, so that leaders could hear clearly and sincerely the voices of the people, their aspirations."

The UN secretary general said leaders in Bahrain, Yemen and Syria must have seen the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and now Libya where Muammar Gaddafi's brutal crackdown led to UN-sanctioned military strikes.

"We are living in an era of globalisation and communications, so they must have been following and they must have been listening to what the international community expects them to do," Ban said.

"I have been talking to all the leaders in the region, all the leaders without exception, every day, urging them to take bold reform measures that respect the will of their people and ensure freedom of speech." In Syria, security forces have shot and killed several demonstrators in the southern town of Deraa.

Ban last week called for "genuine reforms, not repression." In the Yemeni capital Sanaa, more than 50 demonstrators have been killed.

The UN chief condemned the government and yesterday said he doubted that President Ali Abdullah Saleh''s decision to sack the government would calm the population.

Ban spoke with the Bahrain's monarch, King Hamad, last week to highlight his "deepest concern over reports of excessive and indiscriminate use of force by security forces and police in Bahrain." He warned that their actions could breach international humanitarian law.

The Arab League was instrumental in getting the UN Security Council to pass Resolution 1973 last week which approved military action against Gaddafi.

Ban has called the resolution "historic" because it "affirms unequivocally, the international community's determination to fulfill its responsibility to protect civilians from violence perpetrated upon them by their own government."

AFP

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Forces bomb Gadhafi's residence; coalition pounds Libya

Tripoli, Mar 21: US and UK are continuing its offensive in Libya and today is the third day of air strikes battering Libya. The allied forces is turning no stone unturned to bring peace to the region. Muammar Gaddafi, however still remained in his defiant stand.

A stray cruise missile landed inside the compound of Gaddafi destroying the administrative building completely. The Bab al-Aziziya compound also houses his residence and is located 50 metres from the building, revealed Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan spokesperson. He added, “This was a barbaric bombing which could have hit hundreds of civilians gathered at the residence of Muammar Gaddafi about 400 metres away from the building which was hit."

The Western world is hoping to put an end to the crisis that has crippled the country with casualties rising everyday and is abiding by the United Nations directive for a no-fly zone over Libya. With more countries joining in the coalition with the latest entrants being Belgium and Qatar, Gaddafi has called for a ceasefire over rising coalition power. "I sincerely hope and urge the Libyan authorities to keep their word," said the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The new ceasefire call by Gaddafi has raised suspicions with the Pentagon over its credibility. Gaddafi, however said that it was heeding an African Union call for an immediate end to hostilities. But the US rubbished this claim saying that they themselves did not obey the truce call. But anti-Gaddafi potestors welcomed the air strikes aimed at the Gaddafi stronghold.

The Libyan spokesperson added, “Western countries say they want to protect civilians while they bomb the residence knowing there are civilians inside." There are also widespread reports that the Pentagon had given clear instructions on not to bomb Gaddafi's residence and still carried out an attack that could have been deadly. The unnamed US official said that neither Gaddafi nor his residence was the intended target.

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Gaddafi threatens Mediterranean war following "aggressive" international air strikes in Libya

Sunday, March 20, 2011, 10:45 [IST]Tripoli, Mar 20: Colonel Muammar Qaddafi has warned that the "aggressive, and foolish" international air and missile strikes inside Libya have turned North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea into a "real war zone."

"The interests of the involved countries will be subjected to threats as of now in the Mediterranean Sea because of this aggressive, foolish act that's completely unjustifiable, other than it is a mere crusader colonial aggression that aims to launch a second wide ranging crusader campaign," CBS News quoted Gaddafi, as saying.

In his latest statement, the dictator fell short of blaming al Qaeda over the uprising, but instead urged other nations and people to stand by Libya to fight off "colonial aggression."

Qaddafi said that the aggressive actions in Libya are "only making this people stronger, tougher, more united within an internal and united national front. Right now, weapons depots are being opened in order to arm the people with all sorts of weapons, in order to enable them to defend Libya's independence its unity and its Honour."

ANI

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Gaddafi flees from Libya? Bombing continues

Tripoli, Mar 21: Following the simultaneous bombings at Muammar Gaddafi's residence by the forces from United States and United Kingdom, sources informed that no trace of the rigid Libya leader has been found yet. From Sunday (Mar 20) midnight, forces started bombing, sources reported. The news raised question - has Gaddafi fled from Libya?

Arab media on Monday, Mar 21 reported that one of the sons of Gaddafi, Khamis Gaddafi died in hospital. Khamis was injured during the bombings at Gaddafi's residence.

A stray cruise missile landed inside the compound of Gaddafi destroying the administrative building completely. The Bab al-Aziziya compound also houses his residence and is located 50 metres from the building, revealed Moussa Ibrahim, Libyan spokesperson. He added, "This was a barbaric bombing which could have hit hundreds of civilians gathered at the residence of Muammar Gaddafi about 400 metres away from the building which was hit."

The Western world is hoping to put an end to the crisis that has crippled the country with casualties rising everyday and is abiding by the United Nations directive for a no-fly zone over Libya. With more countries joining in the coalition with the latest entrants being Belgium and Qatar, Gaddafi has called for a ceasefire over rising coalition power. "I sincerely hope and urge the Libyan authorities to keep their word," said the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The new ceasefire call by Gaddafi has raised suspicions with the Pentagon over its credibility. Gaddafi, however said that it was heeding an African Union call for an immediate end to hostilities. But the US rubbished this claim saying that they themselves did not obey the truce call. But anti-Gaddafi protesters welcomed the air strikes aimed at the Gaddafi stronghold.

The Libyan spokesperson added, "Western countries say they want to protect civilians while they bomb the residence knowing there are civilians inside." There are also widespread reports that the Pentagon had given clear instructions on not to bomb Gaddafi's residence and still carried out an attack that could have been deadly. The unnamed US official said that neither Gaddafi nor his residence was the intended target.

OneIndia News

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US fighter jet Strike Eagle F-15 crashes in Libya

Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 17:47 [IST]Benghazi (Libya), Mar 22: United States military said on Tuesday, Mar 22 that its Air Force fighter jet, F-15 Strike Eagle, crashed in Libya during the air strikes.

US military officials added that the both crew members ejected safely and one of them was recovered. Special mission was launched to recover the other pilot. Some sources reported that recovered pilot with minor injuries was rescued by rebel Libyan soldiers.

A spokesman for the Africa Command, Vince Crawley said that crash was happened due to a mechanical failure and it was "not due to enemy or hostile actions". He refused to give more details on the crash as the second crew member is still missing.

OneIndia News

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Two AFP journalists missing in Libya since Friday

Tobrok (Libya), Mar 21: Agence France-Presse journalists Dave Clark and Roberto Schmidt, have been missing since Friday in Libya while working in the eastern Tobruk region, the agency said.

Clark, a 38-year-old reporter, and photographer Schmidt, 45, had informed the agency in an email on Friday of their plans to head 35 kilometres (22 miles) out of Tobruk.

They planned on meeting opponents of the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and speaking with refugees fleeing the battles between rebels and the loyalists.

Clark and Schmidt were accompanied by a photographer from the Getty Images agency, Joe Raedle. The three journalists have not been heard of since sending the email Friday night.

Paris-based Clark has been in Libya since Mar 8 while Schmidt, who normally works out of the Nairobi bureau, arrived in Libya on Feb 28.

Since the Feb 15 start of the insurrection against Gaddafi's regime, a number of foreign journalists have been arrested in Libya.

The authorities in Tripoli said they are holding four New York Times journalists after they went missing in the east of the country last Tuesday.

The paper said they were to be freed on Friday but there has been no confirmation that they were indeed released.

On Saturday the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television said that four of its journalists, including a Norwegian and a Briton, are being held in Tripoli after being arrested in Libya's west.

Al-Jazeera cameraman Ali Hassan al-Jaber was killed on March 12 in an ambush near the rebel stronghold of Benghazi -- the first reported death by a foreign media of a journalist in Libya since the start of the uprising.

AFP

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Oil prices rise on concerns about Libya and supplies

New York, Mar 21: Oil prices today climbed as energy experts warned that Libya's oil exports could be off the world market longer than expected, and countries including the US enforced a no-fly zone over Libya.

Traders also fretted about other uprisings in the Middle East and how much they would affect production among OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Benchmark West Texas crude for May delivery gained USD 1.47 at USD 103.32 per barrel at midday on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The Apr contract, which ends tomorrow, rose USD 1.36 to USD 102.43 per barrel. Prices climbed after another violent weekend in Libya. Muammar Gaddafi vowed a long war as allied forces smashed his air defences.

A top French official today said international intervention could last awhile. Oil traders said they're increasingly concerned about political stability in North Africa and the Middle East, which produces 27 per cent of the world's oil. The Libyan uprising has halted that country's exports, and experts said it's unclear when oil shipments will resume.

Markets hate uncertainty, analyst and trader Stephen Schork said. "Could this be a protracted no-fly zone like the one we saw in Iraq" following the Persian Gulf War? Protests in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria also are destabilising the Middle East, a region that includes Saudi Arabia and Iran, two of the top three oil exporters in the world. Combined, Saudi Arabia and Iran produce 12.4 million barrels of oil per day.

Analyst Jim Ritterbusch said he expects oil prices will swing up and down this week as traders react to headlines out of the Middle East.

Meanwhile analysts said Japan will increase imports of fossil fuels to replace power lost from nuclear reactors damaged in the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck that country. Several idled oil refineries also were put back online last week.

AP

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Gaddafi exhorts India to invest in Libya oil

Monday, March 14, 2011, 12:16 [IST]Tripoli, Mar 14: With leaders of the world gunning after him and still a massive unrest at home to subside, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has urged India, China and Russia to invest in the country's oil sector, reported the state television.

Reports in the Libyan state television said, "In the discussions with the ambassadors ... a call was made for the companies of those countries to invest in the Libyan oil industry."

The oil exports of Libya have taken a heavy beating due to the prevalent political unrest, staff-shortage, international sanctions and the denial by international banks to fund deals. Analysts predict that it may take nearly a year's time for the oil-exports of Libya to return to to the normal.

The appeal assumes significance in the context that apart from the three countries' being the fastest growing economies, China and Russia are both veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council and until now are opposed to the idea of imposing a no-fly zone over Libya.

Gaddafi whose 41 year old regime was threatened by a massive unrest inspired from the Egypt protests that toppled the Mubarak government, has been successful to a large extent in crushing the revolt. His indiscriminate use of military warfare against his own country-men has led to anger among western-countries who are mulling a proposal to impose a UN-backed no-fly zone.

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US lends support to Libya no-fly zone talks

Sunday, March 13, 2011, 13:53 [IST]Washington, Mar 13: Amid the disaster in Japan that has rendered thousands homeless, the Libyan revolution had slowly slipped out of the international public's collective mind. But now with the devastation in Japan halted and the relief efforts being in full-swing, Libya is back in the limelight. At least that is what the US actions suggest.

The USA has given its support to a call by the Arab League for a UN no-fly zone over Libya. General Amir Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, on Mar 12, said that the league had decided that "serious crimes and great violations" committed by the Muammar Gaddafi regime against his people had stripped it of legitimacy.

Gaddafi has used his military to attack rebels by warplanes and crush the revolt against his 41-year old regime.

The US called the decision to enforce a no-fly zone an "important step", but didn't commit to any military action. Diplomats though do not rule out a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to vote on the issue.

Libya is in the midst of a massive unrest inspired from the ones in Egypt and Tunisia that took place earlier this year and eventually led to the toppling of decades-old regimes. Protesters who had some initial success in capturing certain region is Libya before being violently attacked by the country's army, are vying for President Gaddafi to step-down after ruling for 41 consecutive years.

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