NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said the alliance had agreed to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya as part of efforts ‘to protect civilians’.
After days of fraught talks, as NATO member Turkey objected to air strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces, the 28-member alliance finally agreed ‘to assume responsibility’ to enforce the no-fly zone, Mr Rasmussen said.
‘We have now decided to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya,’ he said.
‘We are taking action as part of a broad international effort to protect civilians against the Gaddafi regime.
‘We will cooperate with our partners in the region and welcome their contributions.’
NATO’s announcement came at the end of the sixth day of coalition attacks on pro-Gaddafi forces.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that there are no signs that Gaddafi's government is complying with UN Security Council demands for an immediate cease-fire.
‘There is no evidence that Libyan authorities have taken steps to carry out their obligations under resolutions 1970 or 1973,’ Mr Ban told the Security Council.
Mr Ban said his special envoy to Libya, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdelilah Al-Khatib, had personally warned Gaddafi's government the council may take further steps if Libya did not comply with last week's cease-fire demand by the Security Council in resolution 1973.
‘The special envoy emphasized that it was in Libya's best interests to cease hostilities and change the dynamics of the crisis,’ Mr Ban said.
‘If Libya did not act, the envoy stated, the Security Council may be prepared to take additional measures.’
Western warplanes hit military targets deep inside Libya today but failed to prevent tanks re-entering the western town of Misrata overnight.
The French air force said one if its planes fired an air-to-ground missile at a Libyan plane at Misrata airport this afternoon.
Gaddafi's tanks rolled back into Misrata under the cover of darkness and shelled the area near the hospital, which was also under fire from government snipers, residents said.
'Government tanks are closing in on Misrata hospital and shelling the area,' said a doctor in Misrata who was briefly reached by phone before the line was cut off.
Several blasts and anti-aircraft fire were heard in Tripoli tonight.
Al Arabiya television reported that planes struck Sabha, a Gaddafi stronghold in southern Libya.
A Libyan official said fuel storage tanks and a telecommunications tower in Tripoli were among places hit by what state television called 'colonialist crusaders'.
A target in the Tajoura district, which a resident said was a military area, was also hit twice.
Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Kaim said strikes had hit military and civilian compounds in the central Jufrah region and other targets in Tripoli.
Gilmore praises international response
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said the response of the international community to the situation in Libya has been swift, vigorous and clear.
During Dáil statements on the situation in the North African country, Mr Gilmore, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, reiterated Ireland's support for the UN resolutions which seek a halt to violence and ensure protection of civilians.
Minister Gilmore said Colonel Gaddafi should order a genuine cessation of violence and surrender power.
He condemned the response of Gaddafi to the popular uprising in the country, which he described as violent and contemptuous of the international community.
Minister Gilmore said the Irish contribution to the humanitarian response totals €650,000 to date.
He said the international response was not an attempt to achieve regime change.
It demands an end to all violence and a political solution that reflects the demands of the Libyan people, he said.
