The following are the top stories in the Maltese and overseas press:
The Sunday Times reports how the allies started to pound Libya last night. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi defended Malta’s position against Malta being used as a base.
The Malta Independent on Sunday says the Allies were over Libya as Gaddafi pounded rebels. It also reports that a woman claimed a priest abused his authority.
MaltaToday says the leader of the Libyan transitional council has urged Malta to give further support to the rebels. It also says a report says Air Malta was ‘doomed’ by low cost.
It-Torca says Libyans in Malta have been threatened by the Libyan secret service.
KullHadd reports how Libya was attacked with Tomahawk missiles.
Il-Mument says the allies have dropped the first bombs on Libya. The government says it is ready to collaborate with the UN if it is asked to monitor a ceasefire in Libya.
Illum says war has broken out on Malta’s doorstep.
The overseas press:
Sunday's media is dominated by the international military action against Libya, where the US and European nations pounded Muammar Gaddafi's forces and air defenses with cruise missiles and airstrikes, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war in support of an uprising that had seemed on the verge of defeat. The strikes were part of a UN-backed plan to establish a no-fly zone and prevent Libyan government attacks on civilians.
A former Arab League representative to the UN, Clovis Maksoud, has told the BBC that Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and, perhaps Jordan would soon join in the operation in Libya. They have already deployed some of their aircraft to help the coalition. AFP quotes a French official saying that the United Arab Emirates would be contributing 24 fighter jets (Mirage 2000-9s and F-16s) and Qatar would contribute between four and six Mirage 2000-5s.
El Pais reports that Spain's defence ministry said in a statement four F-18 fighter jets and refuelling aircraft had been sent to the Italian base on the island of Sardinia as part of international air raids on Libya. It would also deploy an F-100 frigate, an S-74 submarine and a CN-235 maritime surveillance plane.
The Washington Times says the United States said American and British naval forces fired more than 100 cruise missiles at air-defence sites mainly around the capital, Tripoli, and the western city of Misrata. French military aircraft went into action first over the rebel held city of Benghazi, destroying several of Gaddafi's tanks just hours after his forces killed 36 and shot down a rebel plane. Reuters quotes a US national security official saying Libya air defence systems have been "severely disabled". Al-Libya TV said a French warplane was shot down in Njela district of Tripoli, but French military was swift to deny the report.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that according to the Ministry of Defence, the British fast jets flew 4,828 km (3,000 miles) from RAF Marham and back – the longest range bombing mission conducted by the RAF since the Falklands conflict. The operation was supported by VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refuelling aircraft as well as E3D Sentry and Sentinel surveillance aircraft.
As his country came under fire, Col Gaddafi said the Mediterranean and North Africa had become a war zone and vowed to defend his country from what he called "crusader aggression". In a statement broadcast on state television, LJB TV, Col Gaddafi warned that civilians and military targets in the region would be in danger. A security official reported on Sunday that Libya has decided to suspend co-operation with Europe in the fight against illegal immigration.
The speaker of the Libyan parliament said that civilian areas had been targeted, and there had been casualties. Libyan state television is reporting that 48 people have been killed and more than 150 were injured by the air and missile strikes which targeted military installations in Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, Zuwara and Sirte. A Libyan armed forces communique said the allied attacks affected many educational, health and civilian installations.
O Globo says US President Barack Obama, on an official visit to Brażil, has said the United States was part of a broad coalition to answer the calls of a threatened people in Libya. But he reiterated that the US would not deploy troops on the ground.
International Herald Tribune reports French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said the attacks would continue until the Libyan government complied with the UN resolution.
Pravda says Russia has said it regrets the decision by western powers to take military action.
Xinhua News Agency said China, which abstained with Russia from the UN Security Council vote authorising the Libya no-fly zone, has said it wanted stability restored as soon as possible and hoped the situation would not escalate and lead to greater loss of civilian life. It said, “Beijing respects Libya's "sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity".
Kyodo News Agency reports Japan's Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said in a statement the Japanese government supported measures taken by UN member states. “We strongly condemn the Libyan authorities for continuing violence against the people … (and) urge the Libyan authorities to make a prudent decision as quickly as possible," he added.
AFP news agency reports the African Union's panel on Libya has called for an "immediate stop" to all attacks.
El Mundo says Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez condemned military strikes against Libya on Saturday, accusing the United States and its European allies of attacking the country to seize its oil. Chavez's ally and mentor Fidel Castro raised similar concerns in a column written in Grandma before the first strikes, while the leftist leaders of Bolivia and Nicaragua also accused world powers of intervening with an eye to the North African country's oil.
Reuters reports Gaddafi called on Africans, Arabs, Latin Americans and Asians to stand by Libyans. Earlier on Saturday, as international air strikes became imminent, supporters of Muammar Gaddafi gathered at several locations to act as human shields. The British news agency issued pictures showing Aisha Gaddafi, his daughter, in an open vehicle waving the Libyan green flag, outside the Bab al-Aziziyah Palace, Gaddafi's residence in Tripoli.
Global Post reports from Benghazi that rebels have regained control of the city after driving out forces loyal to Col Gaddafi. The rebels say roads to the east are clogged with car loads of people fleeing. Meanwhile, al-Jazeera is reporting that Gaddafi loyalists have again been bombarding areas of the rebel-held eastern city of Benghazi. It says some residents fled to nearby mosques for safety after they came under tank and rocket fire.
In other news…
In the first sign that contamination from Japan's stricken nuclear complex had seeped into the food chain, TV Asahi quotes officials saying that radiation levels in spinach and milk from farms near the tsunami-crippled facility exceeded government safety limits. Meanwhile, it was announced that engineers were close to restoring power at the stricken Japanese nuclear plant. The death toll from the tsunami and quake has now reached 7,600 with over 10,000 still missing.
Al Ahram says millions of Egyptians voted freely on Saturday for the first time in more than half a century, joyfully waiting for hours to cast their ballots on a package of constitutional changes eliminating much-hated restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.
American Reporter says President Obama applauded Brazil's "extraordinary rise" on the world stage but stopped short of backing its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. At the start of a five-day trip to Latin America, Obama signed a series of trade and energy deals with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and said his visit was a historic opportunity to strengthen US ties with the region's largest economy.
Al Ayyam reports Palestinian militants in Gaza fired dozens of missiles into southern Israel in what appeared to be their heaviest such barrage in two years. Two Israelis were hurt. Israeli tanks later shelled targets in the coastal strip, wounding at least five people, Palestinian officials say.