A French Dassault Rafale combat aircraft,
seen in this photo released by ECPAD (French Defence communication and audiovisual production agency), takes off from Saint-Dizier military base, eastern France, March 19, 2011, on a mission to overfly Libya.
PARIS — As the international community launched aerial military missions against Libya on Saturday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the action amounts to an “act of war” that is critical to remove Moammar Gadhafi from power before he massacres any more of his own people.
Harper made the comments after an emergency summit of world leaders who had gathered to discuss how they will implement a United Nations-sanctioned no-fly zone to prevent Gadhafi’s suppression of civilians.
The coalition wasted no time, with French jets becoming the first, on Saturday, to begin enforcing the no-fly zone.
It was the first step in the largest international military exercise in the Arab world since the Iraq war.
The coalition has pledged to not resort to a ground invasion, hoping instead to use its military air support to help the anti-Gadhafi forces topple the dictator who has ruled Libya for 42 years.
The prime minister acknowledged that the military operation will be complex and could lead to casualties among the very civilians that nations are trying to protect, and perhaps among the military personnel being sent to Libya.
“We should not kid ourselves. Whenever you engage in military action — essentially acts of war — these are difficult situations,” Harper said.
“And we will have to monitor this very closely and be very careful what we do every step of the way.”
Canada has committed six CF-18 fighter jets, and a contingent of 140 pilots and support personnel. They have arrived in the region and a government spokesman said they could be ready within two days to participate in the aerial missions.
Harper stressed that Canada and its allies have no authorization to commit ground forces to the operation, nor do they have plans to do so.
“These campaigns are complicated and one cannot promise perfection. One cannot promise there will not be casualties on our side, either. But obviously, all precautions will be taken to minimize our own casualties and minimize those of innocent civilians.”
Nonetheless, Harper spoke forcefully about the need for people to understand what the alternative is if the international community does not intervene in the civil war now raging in Libya.
“We’re dealing with an individual and with a regime that will not be satisfied with the mere re-imposition of authority. The nature of this leader and the nature of his regime is they will massacre every single individual they even remotely suspect of disloyalty. This is an intolerable situation.”
The summit Saturday was hastily organized by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Among those in attendance were British Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the leaders of the Arab League and African Union.
Sarkozy emerged from the summit with a pointed warning for Gadhafi: military jets had begun patrolling the Libyan skies and the intervention wouldn’t end until the ruler’s aggression ends.
“Arab people have chosen to free themselves,” he said. “It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal.”
Sarkozy stressed that the international coalition now intervening has no intention of determining Libya’s future, but rather to protect civilian lives.
“We are intervening in order to enable the Libyan people to decide (their) own destiny,” said Sarkozy.
“The doors of diplomacy will open once again when the aggression stops.”
The emergency meeting came as the situation in Libya became increasingly unpredictable and perilous.
A wide range of nations, including Canada, announced Friday that they will contribute military assets — such as fighter jets — to enforce a no-fly zone over Libyan skies.
And while Gadhafi’s regime had promised a ceasefire, there were indications on Saturday that the fighting was continuing in Libya, with reports that government forces were moving into the rebel-held city of Benghazi.
A military jet — flown either by the regime’s air force or the rebels — was shot down in the city.
Meanwhile, Gadhafi sent a public message to the leaders gathering in Paris that he is not going to back down from his military plans to crush the revolt in his country.
He said other nations were not entitled to intervene in Libyan affairs and would regret the actions they are planning to take.
“Libya is not yours, Libya is for all Libyans,” Gadhafi was quoted by his spokesman as saying in a letter to France, Britain and the United Nations.
“This is injustice, it is clear aggression, and it is uncalculated risk for its consequences on the Mediterranean and Europe.”
“You will regret it if you take a step toward intervening in our internal affairs.”
The government spokesman also quoted Gadhafi in another letter written to United States President Barack Obama, warning that he and all other Libyans were “prepared to die” in the defence of their country.
“If you had found them taking over American cities with armed force, tell me what you would do?” said Gadhafi’s spokesman, reading from the letter at a news conference in Tripoli.
As they met Saturday, the national leaders who have formed the international military coalition against Gadhafi came under pressure to move quickly in the coming days.
They have the blessing of the United Nations Security Council, which passed a resolution Thursday to impose a no-fly zone and to take “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians.
Little is known about how the military operation will evolve, but it’s expected the first steps will include attacks on Libyan air defences. It’s possible U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea would knock out Gadhafi’s radar and surface-to-air missile sites along Libya’s coastline.
That would clear the way for military jets to move in to strike any Libyan jets that are in the air. Moreover, it appears the coalition has the clearance to strike any Libyan military ground forces that are threatening civilians, including the rebels who have been doing battle with government forces.
Harper was accompanied at Saturday’s meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff.
The United States has not yet announced the full nature of its military commitment, although it is known that besides the air power that eventually will be needed, there are American submarines and surface ships armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles within striking distance of Libya.
Britain and France are both sending fighter jets for the mission and Italy is providing the use of some of its airbases.
mkennedy@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Mark Kennedy
--------
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
announces military action against Col Gaddafi's forces in Libya
A French plane has fired the first shots in Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone begins.
The UK prime minister later confirmed British planes were also in action, while US media reports said the US had fired its first Cruise missiles.
The action came hours after Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution.
It allows "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
'Stop the bombardment'
The French plane fired the first shot in Libya at 1645 GMT and destroyed its target, according to a military spokesman.
French planes also flew reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory", French military sources said earlier.
Around 20 French aircraft were involved in Saturday's operation, the Reuters news agency reports.
French jets "destroyed a number of tanks and armoured vehicles", a defence ministry official told Reuters, adding that he could not immediately confirm the number.
Other air forces and navies are expected to join the French.
The US would use its "unique capabilities" to reinforce the no-fly zone, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, warning that further delays would put more civilians at risk. However, Mrs Clinton said again that the US would not deploy ground troops in Libya.
A naval blockade is also being put in place, said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. France is sending its Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Libyan coast, a military spokesman said.
In other developments:
* Italy has offered the use of seven of its military bases which already house US, Nato and Italian forces.
* Canada says its fighter jets have now reached the region but will need two days to prepare for any missions.
Earlier, pro-Gaddafi forces had attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi - although the Libyan government denied launching any assault.
The international community was intervening to stop the "murderous madness" of Col Gaddafi, Mr Sarkozy said.
"In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger," he warned. "It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Libya's claims to have implemented a ceasefire were "troubling", the AFP news agency reported.
The lack of confidence was so great that he did not trust what the Libyan leadership was saying, Mr Ban added.
Russia regretted the decision by Western powers to take military action, a foreign ministry spokesman said. Russia abstained from the UN vote on the Libya resolution, but did not use its veto.
The rebels' leader had earlier appealed to the international community to stop the bombardment by pro-Gaddafi forces.
A jet also appears to have been shot down over Benghazi. A rebel spokesman was quoted as saying the downed jet was a rebel plane.
Reports from Benghazi suggest hundreds of cars packed with people were fleeing eastwards as fighting spread.
The United Nations refugee agency says it is preparing to receive 200,000 people fleeing the fighting, amid reports of hundreds of cars full of people heading for the Egyptian border, while others are attempting to flee on foot.
The first families had arrived at the Egyptian border, extremely frightened and traumatised, saying some of their homes have been completely flattened said UNHCR spokeswoman Elizabeth Tan.
However, the BBC's Ben Brown, who is at the border, says so far there are a handful of families, in addition to the migrant workers who have been there since the crisis started.
Harper made the comments after an emergency summit of world leaders who had gathered to discuss how they will implement a United Nations-sanctioned no-fly zone to prevent Gadhafi’s suppression of civilians.
The coalition wasted no time, with French jets becoming the first, on Saturday, to begin enforcing the no-fly zone.
It was the first step in the largest international military exercise in the Arab world since the Iraq war.
 A French Dassault Rafale combat aircraft is seen in this photo released by ECPAD (French Defence communication and audiovisual production agency) as it prepares to take off from Saint-Dizier military base, eastern France, March 19, 2011, on a mission to overfly Libya. Photograph by: Supplied, Reuters |
The prime minister acknowledged that the military operation will be complex and could lead to casualties among the very civilians that nations are trying to protect, and perhaps among the military personnel being sent to Libya.
“We should not kid ourselves. Whenever you engage in military action — essentially acts of war — these are difficult situations,” Harper said.
“And we will have to monitor this very closely and be very careful what we do every step of the way.”
Canada has committed six CF-18 fighter jets, and a contingent of 140 pilots and support personnel. They have arrived in the region and a government spokesman said they could be ready within two days to participate in the aerial missions.
Harper stressed that Canada and its allies have no authorization to commit ground forces to the operation, nor do they have plans to do so.
“These campaigns are complicated and one cannot promise perfection. One cannot promise there will not be casualties on our side, either. But obviously, all precautions will be taken to minimize our own casualties and minimize those of innocent civilians.”
Nonetheless, Harper spoke forcefully about the need for people to understand what the alternative is if the international community does not intervene in the civil war now raging in Libya.
“We’re dealing with an individual and with a regime that will not be satisfied with the mere re-imposition of authority. The nature of this leader and the nature of his regime is they will massacre every single individual they even remotely suspect of disloyalty. This is an intolerable situation.”
The summit Saturday was hastily organized by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Among those in attendance were British Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and the leaders of the Arab League and African Union.
Sarkozy emerged from the summit with a pointed warning for Gadhafi: military jets had begun patrolling the Libyan skies and the intervention wouldn’t end until the ruler’s aggression ends.
“Arab people have chosen to free themselves,” he said. “It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal.”
Sarkozy stressed that the international coalition now intervening has no intention of determining Libya’s future, but rather to protect civilian lives.
“We are intervening in order to enable the Libyan people to decide (their) own destiny,” said Sarkozy.
“The doors of diplomacy will open once again when the aggression stops.”
The emergency meeting came as the situation in Libya became increasingly unpredictable and perilous.
A wide range of nations, including Canada, announced Friday that they will contribute military assets — such as fighter jets — to enforce a no-fly zone over Libyan skies.
And while Gadhafi’s regime had promised a ceasefire, there were indications on Saturday that the fighting was continuing in Libya, with reports that government forces were moving into the rebel-held city of Benghazi.
A military jet — flown either by the regime’s air force or the rebels — was shot down in the city.
Meanwhile, Gadhafi sent a public message to the leaders gathering in Paris that he is not going to back down from his military plans to crush the revolt in his country.
He said other nations were not entitled to intervene in Libyan affairs and would regret the actions they are planning to take.
“Libya is not yours, Libya is for all Libyans,” Gadhafi was quoted by his spokesman as saying in a letter to France, Britain and the United Nations.
“This is injustice, it is clear aggression, and it is uncalculated risk for its consequences on the Mediterranean and Europe.”
“You will regret it if you take a step toward intervening in our internal affairs.”
The government spokesman also quoted Gadhafi in another letter written to United States President Barack Obama, warning that he and all other Libyans were “prepared to die” in the defence of their country.
“If you had found them taking over American cities with armed force, tell me what you would do?” said Gadhafi’s spokesman, reading from the letter at a news conference in Tripoli.
As they met Saturday, the national leaders who have formed the international military coalition against Gadhafi came under pressure to move quickly in the coming days.
They have the blessing of the United Nations Security Council, which passed a resolution Thursday to impose a no-fly zone and to take “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians.
Little is known about how the military operation will evolve, but it’s expected the first steps will include attacks on Libyan air defences. It’s possible U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea would knock out Gadhafi’s radar and surface-to-air missile sites along Libya’s coastline.
That would clear the way for military jets to move in to strike any Libyan jets that are in the air. Moreover, it appears the coalition has the clearance to strike any Libyan military ground forces that are threatening civilians, including the rebels who have been doing battle with government forces.
Harper was accompanied at Saturday’s meeting by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and Gen. Walt Natynczyk, the chief of defence staff.
The United States has not yet announced the full nature of its military commitment, although it is known that besides the air power that eventually will be needed, there are American submarines and surface ships armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles within striking distance of Libya.
Britain and France are both sending fighter jets for the mission and Italy is providing the use of some of its airbases.
mkennedy@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Mark Kennedy
--------
- French military jet opens fire in Libya
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
announces military action against Col Gaddafi's forces in Libya
A French plane has fired the first shots in Libya as enforcement of the UN-mandated no-fly zone begins.
The UK prime minister later confirmed British planes were also in action, while US media reports said the US had fired its first Cruise missiles.
The action came hours after Western and Arab leaders met in Paris to agree how to enforce the UN resolution.
It allows "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
'Stop the bombardment'
The French plane fired the first shot in Libya at 1645 GMT and destroyed its target, according to a military spokesman.
French planes also flew reconnaissance missions over "all Libyan territory", French military sources said earlier.
Around 20 French aircraft were involved in Saturday's operation, the Reuters news agency reports.
French jets "destroyed a number of tanks and armoured vehicles", a defence ministry official told Reuters, adding that he could not immediately confirm the number.
Other air forces and navies are expected to join the French.
The US would use its "unique capabilities" to reinforce the no-fly zone, said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, warning that further delays would put more civilians at risk. However, Mrs Clinton said again that the US would not deploy ground troops in Libya.A naval blockade is also being put in place, said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. France is sending its Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Libyan coast, a military spokesman said.
In other developments:
* Italy has offered the use of seven of its military bases which already house US, Nato and Italian forces.
* Canada says its fighter jets have now reached the region but will need two days to prepare for any missions.
Earlier, pro-Gaddafi forces had attacked the rebel stronghold of Benghazi - although the Libyan government denied launching any assault.
The international community was intervening to stop the "murderous madness" of Col Gaddafi, Mr Sarkozy said.
"In Libya, the civilian population, which is demanding nothing more than the right to choose their own destiny, is in mortal danger," he warned. "It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Libya's claims to have implemented a ceasefire were "troubling", the AFP news agency reported.
The lack of confidence was so great that he did not trust what the Libyan leadership was saying, Mr Ban added.
Russia regretted the decision by Western powers to take military action, a foreign ministry spokesman said. Russia abstained from the UN vote on the Libya resolution, but did not use its veto.
The rebels' leader had earlier appealed to the international community to stop the bombardment by pro-Gaddafi forces.
A jet also appears to have been shot down over Benghazi. A rebel spokesman was quoted as saying the downed jet was a rebel plane.
Reports from Benghazi suggest hundreds of cars packed with people were fleeing eastwards as fighting spread.
The United Nations refugee agency says it is preparing to receive 200,000 people fleeing the fighting, amid reports of hundreds of cars full of people heading for the Egyptian border, while others are attempting to flee on foot.
The first families had arrived at the Egyptian border, extremely frightened and traumatised, saying some of their homes have been completely flattened said UNHCR spokeswoman Elizabeth Tan.
However, the BBC's Ben Brown, who is at the border, says so far there are a handful of families, in addition to the migrant workers who have been there since the crisis started.
