AFP - The regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has conducted several air raids on Monday and accused Paris, London and Washington of conspiring to divide Libya, while the international community considers the possibility of military operations.
The Libyan foreign minister Musa Kusa was accused Monday of France, Great Britain and the United States to "contact with those who have defected" and moved into opposition."This means that there is a conspiracy to divide Libya," he said at a news conference in Tripoli.
More isolated than ever on the international stage after three weeks of insurrection, Colonel Gaddafi had already accused France of "interference" after the support from Paris to the National Council set up by the opposition in Benghazi, the second city countries to prepare for the transition.
On the diplomatic front, the UN has appointed former Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdel Ilah Khatib to undertake "urgent consultations" with Tripoli on the humanitarian crisis caused by fighting.
On the ground, the violence continues.Three air raids targeted by loyalist forces Monday strategic oil port of Ras Lanuf, taken Friday by the insurgency, where insurgents have responded with antiaircraft artillery, according to an AFP journalist. A shot struck the car of a family fleeing the fighting, wounding a 13 years old and his father told him to AFP.
At daybreak, the inhabitants had fled Ras Lanuf, outpost of the rebellion in the east, 300 km south-west of Benghazi for fear of the fighting that had driven the insurgents from Ben Jawad, about forty kilometers to the west.
On the road, a vehicle equipped with loudspeakers spitting instructions to insurgents. "Do not go to the front before the army.Oil is in our hands, "shouted the voice in the loudspeaker, suggesting that the village of Ben Jawad, where fighting Sunday killed at least 12 dead and over 50 injured, was not worth such a sacrifice.
A Misrata, 3rd largest city, held by the opposition to 150 km east of Tripoli, fighting Sunday have killed 21 people, mostly civilians, including a boy, according to a doctor. The forces pro-Gaddafi stormed the city with heavy weapons throughout the day, told the doctor: "They fired on civilians and buildings.The rebels fought back and managed to push Gaddafi's forces outside the city. "
Not far away, in Zentena, an offensive by loyalist forces in the night from Sunday to Monday was rejected by the people who have seized weapons and food, according to a witness who saw at least five bodies.
The UN on Monday launched an appeal for 160 million dollars to help the victims, while the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was already marching on February 25 the figure of more than 1,000 dead.
In Washington, the pressure was rising around the president Barack Obama to provide military assistance to insurgents and neutralize Libyan aviation, either by a no-fly zone, either by destruction of runways. Mr.Obama has warned employees that they should Muammar Gaddafi "accountable" to the violence.
The White House said Monday that the idea of arming the insurgency was an option, said it was "premature" to engage in such an operation now. French and British diplomats, working on a draft UN resolution establishing a no-fly zone, want to present it within a week.
The Secretary General of NATO stated in response that attacks against civilians could be considered crimes against humanity and the international community could not remain passive if continued.He however reiterated that NATO had "no intention to intervene" without UN mandate.
Gulf Arab monarchies have favored the establishment of a UN-fly zone "to protect civilians," while Russia was opposed to any foreign military interference.
After an initial series of sanctions including an assets freeze and a visa ban for 26 Libyan officials, the European Union is now the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), Government's sovereign wealth fund.
Japan announced the implementation of sanctions imposed by the UN against Libya - which include the freezing of assets of Colonel Gaddafi and his family - and the entry ban on Japanese territory for 16 members of the regime.
Italy said it had established contacts "discreet" with the National Council of the opposition. In contrast, a "British diplomatic team" came to establish contacts in Benghazi had to leave the country after being detained for several days by the opposition, which accused him of having entered the country "without prior approval.
More than 191,000 people have fled the violence so far and about 10,000 displaced people heading towards the Egyptian border, the UN says.Tensions in Libya, which holds the largest oil reserves in Africa, have continued to affect markets and oil prices.
