(BBC) - The Libyan government has announced an immediate ceasefire in its offensive against rebels who have seized large areas of the country. The announcement came as a coalition of Western and Arab nations prepared for air strikes against Libyan forces.
Before the ceasefire announcement, heavy fighting was continuing. Rebels said government forces had been bombarding the western city of Misrata. There are claims this has continued despite the ceasefire announcement.
Military action short of an occupation was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council on Thursday evening. UN Security Council Resolution 1973 gave broad backing to taking military action against all threats to civilians, which could include bombing ground forces loyal to Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa said his country was obliged to accept the UN resolution and to observe the air exclusion zone that had been agreed.
The ceasefire announcement came only hours after Col Gaddafi had insisted that the Security Council had "no mandate" for such a resolution, "which we absolutely do not recognise". "This is not a war between two countries that permits the council to intervene," he said in an interview on Portuguese television.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Libyan government would need to demonstrate it was implementing a ceasefire. "We are going to be not responsive or impressed by words, we would have to see actions on the ground and that is not yet at all clear," she said.
"We will continue to work with our partners in the international community to press Gaddafi to leave and to support the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people."
Analysis: "Gaddafi's decision to call a ceasefire may make headlines around the world, but in a practical sense it means very little. As a clear reaction to the passage of UN Resolution 1973, which calls for a military no-fly zone over Libya, Gaddafi's move shows considerable weakness but does not hinder him from further attacks on opposition forces. What remains to be seen is to what degree of commitment and force the international community will throw behind 1973. Expect to see fighting resume soon and the UN's commitment to be tested."
Read the Full Article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12787739
