West Ready to Strike Libya but Will Check Out Gaddafi's Ceasefire First

French Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe (R) arrives for a meeting on the UN resolution for the crisis in Libya at Matignon in Paris, France, 18 March 2011. EPA/BGNES

The Western powers are ready to launch a military operation enforcing the UN-authorized no-fly zone over Libya but are first going to discuss the ceasefire announced Friday by Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Late Thursday night the UN Security Council adopted by 10 votes in favor and five abstaining (Russia, China, Germany, India, and Brazil) a resolution co-sponsored by the USA, UK, France, and Lebanon providing for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Libya and for further sanctions against the Gaddafi regime.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has indicated that "everything" is ready for military strikes against the Gaddafi regime but that an emergency summit will be held in Paris on Saturday to examine Gaddafi's ceasefire.

"We have to analyze the conditions of the ceasefire. It has to be on all of the territory of Libya and not only Benghazi, and we think that Libya must comply with all the resolutions of the UN Security Council," Juppe declared Friday night as cited by international media.

He pointed out that Gaddafi's ceasefire has to be applied to the entire territory of Libya, and not just the areas around Benghazi held by the rebels.

The resolution came at a time when Gaddafi's forces were closing in on the opposition rebels' capital Benghazi; it is intended to prevent Gaddafi from continuing to utilize his aviation for air strikes against the rebels and civilians, and for moving reinforcements. After the UN resolution was adopted, on Friday the Gaddafi regime announced it terminated the military operations against the rebels. However, these claims have been disproved by the rebels.

Representatives of the UN, Arab League and European Union are among those who have announced plans to attend Saturday's summit in Paris, the VOA reported. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also said the 27-nation bloc will be examining the details of the Libyan cease-fire.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. wants to see pro-Gadhafi forces move a "significant" distance away from rebel positions in eastern Libya.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said his country is obliged to accept the Security Council resolution as a UN member. The resolution passed late Thursday authorizes "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya.

Meanwhile, reports have indicated that Libya has invited Turkey, Malta, and China to send observers on the ground in order to monitor the ceasefire. There has been no indication if such observers would be sent.

Italy has decided to let international forces use its military bases for the UN-backed foreign intervention to set up a no-fly zone over Libya where dictator Muammar Gaddafi is fighting anti-regime rebels, Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini announced.

Italy's position is key not only because it is an important NATO country but also because of its proximity to Libya and its ties with the North African country. Italy hosts two NATO bases - in Sigonella, Sicily, and in Aviano in the northern part of the country.

The Italian air base at Trapani-Birgi in Sicily, located 500 km north of the Libyan capital Tripoli, is already being used by NATO AWACS planes for aerial reconnaissance over Libya. The French military bases of Istres in southern France, and Ventiseri-Solenzara in Corsica are also expected to be used.

The USA, the UK, and France as well as a number other NATO and EU nations - with the notable exception of Germany - have declared they will provide military equipment to enforce the UNSC resolution.

Britain will send Typhoon and Tornado fighter jets to air bases "in the coming hours" to prevent Moammar Gadhafi's forces from striking the anti-government rebels in Libya, UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday.

The USA has already deployed a number of military vessels in the region, including submarines, destroyers, amphibious assault and landing ships with some 400 Marines. The French carrier Charles De Gaulle is stationed in Toulon.

Canada has already committed six multi-purpose fighter jets CF-18 for the no-fly zone operation over Libya.

Danish Defense Minister Gitte Lillelund Bech said her country can send four F-16 fighters plus two spare F-16s and a cargo plane with ammunition.

Spain has offered its two air bases available to NATO if the alliance intervenes in Libya, as well as its navy and air force.

Belgium has promised six F-16 fighter jets, which are located in Greece, and a battle ship in the Mediterranean.

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov has declared that Bulgaria will stay out of the military operation against the regime of Muammar Gaddafi because it does not have means to commit to it at present; however, Bulgaria will move to comply to the maximum with all international sanctions against the Libyan dictator.