Fresh attack on rebel-held oil terminal in Libya
March 9th, 2011 - 4:56 pm ICT by IANS
Cairo/Tripoli, March 9 (IANS) Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi launched air strikes on a major oil export terminal held by anti-government protesters, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday quoting Al Jazeera.
The air strikes near rebel positions east of the oil port of Ras Lanuf follow similar attacks Monday and Tuesday.
The rebels demanding Gaddafi’s ouster took control of Ras Lanuf last week. A rebel spokesman said an offer by Gaddafi’s representatives to negotiate the Libyan leader’s exit had been rejected.
In recorded comments broadcast on state television Wednesday, Gaddafi accused the US, Britain and France of planning to seize Libya’s oil and wealth.
When questioned on the stand taken by Western powers, Gaddafi said they “want to colonise Libya again”. “It’s a colonialist plot.”
Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd Wednesday joined foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council to call on the UN Security Council to impose the no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians.
A UN resolution on the no-fly zone is to be debated by NATO defence ministers later this week.
Libya is reeling under massive anti-government protests since Feb 14. The protesters are demanding the ouster of Gaddafi who has ruled the north African country for 42 years.
According to one estimate, the violent clashes between anti-government protesters and pro-Gaddafi troops have claimed over 6,000 lives. The UN says around 200,000 people have been displaced by the violence.
- Air strikes continue as Gaddafi sees foreigners hands in protests (Lead) - Mar 09, 2011
- Fighting engulfs Libya as Gaddafi offers bounty for opposition leader (Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- Libyan rebels forced to retreat from Ras Lanuf port - Mar 11, 2011
- Pro-Gaddafi forces renew air attacks on rebels - Mar 08, 2011
- France, Britain ready to hit Libya, says Sarkozy - Mar 11, 2011
- Gaddafi forces regain strategic town of Ajdabiya (Lead) - Mar 16, 2011
- Libyan protesters in contact with Italy - Mar 10, 2011
- Fighter plane shot down, rebels evicted from Benghazi (Lead) - Mar 19, 2011
- Fighter plane shot down in Libyan rebel-held town - Mar 19, 2011
- Gaddafi troops take control of Ras Lanuf - Mar 12, 2011
- Gaddafi warns of ending cooperation with EU - Mar 11, 2011
- Video shows Muammar Gaddafi being sodomized - Oct 22, 2011
- Fighting engulfs Libya; EU, Russia impose sanctions (Second Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- 48 killed as coalition forces target Libyan air defence - Mar 20, 2011
- Libya declares ceasefire after UN no-fly resolution - Mar 18, 2011
Tags: air strikes, al jazeera, export terminal, fly zone, foreign ministers, gulf cooperation council, kevin rudd, libyan leader muammar, libyan leader muammar gaddafi, muammar gaddafi, nato defence ministers, novosti, oil export, oil port, oil terminal, ouster, rebel positions, state television, un security council, violent clashes