Libya’s air force stepped up air strikes and heavy shelling was heard yesterday on the front line, as the revolt against Muammar Gaddafi’s regime entered its third week amid mounting calls for a no-fly zone over the country.
As the violence escalated, the Arab League said foreign ministers of its member states would meet on Saturday for crisis talks on the situation, a day later than originally announced.
The European Union tightened sanctions against Tripoli, targeting five “entities” including the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) – the overseas investment vehicle for oil revenues – and the Libyan Central Bank.
Meanwhile, a rebel spokesman said an intermediary of Col Gaddafi had offered talks with the opposition but was rejected outright.
The claim of an approach by Col Gaddafi envoys was dismissed as “rubbish” by a government official in Tripoli speaking on condition of anonymity.
The head of the insurgents’ provisional council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, also said the rebel leadership would not pursue criminal charges against Col Gaddafi if he resigns and leaves the country.
Unconfirmed reports that Col Gaddafi was seeking a safe exit brought oil prices off 30-month highs, as Opec held discussions over Libya, traders said.
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) stepped up the pressure yesterday for the United Nations to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya.
In a statement released at the end of a special session in Saudi Arabia on Libya, the 57-member block said it would hold ministerial-level talks “as soon as possible to adopt the recommendation of a no-fly zone”.
IOC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu called for the no-fly zone at the beginning of the meeting but rejected “any military interference (on the ground) in Libya.”
On Monday, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council urged the “UN Security Council (to) take all necessary measures to protect civilians, including enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.”
And diplomats said a joint British-French resolution for a no-fly zone to hamper Col Gaddafi’s offensive and deny his air force the freedom to attack the rag-tag rebel elements could go before the Security Council as early as this week.
But any move towards collective military action of any kind is likely to face tough resistance from China, Russia and other members of the Security Council.
The United States, which would likely bear the main burden of any such operation, has said it is studying the possibility while warning of the major commitment it would entail.
Meanwhile, Khartoum University said it had decided to revoke the honorary doctorate that it awarded to Col. Gaddafi in 1996 and condemned the actions of his regime against the Libyan people.