Libya

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BBC Khaled in the UK tells the BBC “I just have been told by my sister who lives in Misrata that Gaddafi forces are shelling residences and homes with massive force. Everyone is hysterical and there is lots of screaming. I am very worried.”

The same pharmacist who spoke earlier said the revolutionaries have destroyed two tanks.

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Human Rights Watch shows support for UN intervention

The Guardian : Human Rights Watch has shown support for UN-sanctioned intervention, citing the notorious Abu Saleem prison massacre during Gaddafi’s decades-long rule in Libya. HRW say that since February 17th, they have documented cases in which government forces opened fire on peaceful protesters and the arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance of scores of people. “The world should not ignore the serious abuses by Libyan security forces over the past month, as well as Gaddafi’s demonstrated disregard for human rights over four decades,” says Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East and North Africa director.Read here

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Al Jazeera English : Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, says there is no sign of Libyan regime aircraft in flight, a sign that they may have been destroyed or their facilities too badly damaged to use.

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Al Manara reports as well that military vehicles belonging to the revolutionaries are on their way to Ajdabiya. They add that the no-fly zone is now in effect.

[Hyperactive]

lol faranacab, libia reported bad noqotay ninyaho.

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lol faranacab, libia reported bad noqotay ninyaho.

Sheekh hyper, lol for today you can adders me as Faraliibiya..warkuna waxuu ka soo qulqulahayaa far jano..oo ku taala qari jiqood..lool

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The Washington Post reports that Western reconnaissance satellites are watching a "small garage" south of Sirte where it is believed the Gaddafi regime stores around 10 tonnes of mustard gas.

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Al Jazeera : The Taliban has issued a statement condemning the strikes in Libya, saying they represent a "politically-motivated and uncalled-for intervention and adventure" of Western nations in the internal affairs of the country.

The "anti-Islamic" and "colonialist" forces don't want a solution to the bloodshed, the statement said, but rather plan to weaken Libya and take its oil through "direct invasions."

The Taliban called on Muslims and rulers in the Islamic world not to remain neutral and to help Libya to "wriggle free" and "save itself from the tentacles of the foreign colonialism."

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The Guardian Iran has joined in the fray. A missive from Tehran says Western attacks are a neo-colonial attempt to gain control over Libyan oil.

• Although the Iranian has voiced support for the uprising against Gaddafi, in what it called an "Islamic awakening" in the Arab world, it says Libyans should not trust Western military intervention.
  
  These countries enter usually with seductive slogans of supporting the people but they follow their own interests in ruling the countries and continuing colonialism in a new form," said Ramin Mehmanparast, a foreign ministry spokesman, according to the Isna, the students' news agency.
  
  "The records and the actions of the dominant countries in occupying oppressed countries means their intentions in such moves are always in doubt.
  
  Although Iran has taken a zero-tolerance approach to any protests at home, Mehmanparast said the Iranian position "is always to support the people and defend their legitimate demands."

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Al Jazeera Bombs overnight hit "near Bab al-Aziziyah", Gaddafi's Tripoli home and headquarters.

No further information has been given where exactly they hit. The compound is in the residential southern suburb of the capital city, which is home to more than 1million people.

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Al Jazeera China and India "express regret" over the air strikes, while Japan says it approves of the military action.

Meanwhile, the African Union's panel on Libya called for "an immediate stop" to the bombardment.

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"Several" US F16 fighter jets are waiting on the Tarmac at the Italian base of Sigonella in Sicily, after an unmanned US drone landed at the base this morning, say Reuters.

An extra four Danish F16s have arrived at the base this morning, adding to the two that arrievd there yesterday.

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Libya's state TV is saying that Gaddafi's officials have begun distributing weapons to more than 1million people.

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Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley, reporting from Benghazi, says:

• "There's a note of apprehension here. They have been buoyed by the fact that Gaddafi's forces have withdrawn and gone down the road - but they are still fearful of the sleeper cells that are believed to remain in the city.
  
  Though they've now been getting a helping hand from the international community, they know it's up to them to get rid of Gaddafi. Their fighters are now a bit more structured, they're looking more like a fighting force. But it could still be weeks or months before this comes to a conclusion.
  
  They've got a long coastline under their control, and I'm sure the western powers don't have any problems with them being armed. Getting supplies in won't be too difficult - they're getting a lot of money in from Gulf countries - and their intention is to go forward from here.

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The Guardian Photo of smouldering tank belonging to Gaddafi’s forces in Benghazi