Gaddafi orders air force to bomb his own people
COLONEL Muammar al-Gaddafi ordered the bombing of his own people by Libyan fighter planes yesterday in a move described as the "last desperate act" of his four-decade reign.
As his grip on power appeared to be slipping, several senior government figures resigned over Col Gaddafi's use of force against protesters, with one accusing him of "crimes against humanity".
Two Libyan Air Force fighter pilots landed their jets in Malta yesterday, where they told authorities they had been ordered to bomb protesters opposed to the regime.
The pilots, both colonels, took off from a base near the capital city Tripoli after refusing orders to attack anti-government campaigners.
There were reports last night, however, that some military aircraft were obeying orders to carry out attacks on crowds gathered in the capital.
Protester Adel Mohamed Saleh said: "What we are witnessing today is unimaginable. Warplanes and helicopters are indiscriminately bombing one area after another. There are many, many dead."
Fathi al-Warfali, a Libyan activist who heads the Libyan Committee for Truth and Justice, who was taking part in a protest outside United Nations offices in Geneva, said he had heard the same reports. He added: "Military planes are attacking civilians, protesters in Tripoli now. The civilians are frightened."
There were also eyewitness reports last night of the Libyan navy firing on parts of Tripoli.
Clashes between Libyan security forces and anti-government demonstrators continued yesterday, as several key officials resigned in protest.
The discontent within the Gaddafi government was laid bare by the resignation of justice minister Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who said he had stepped down due to the "excessive use of force against unarmed protesters".
Members of Libya's mission to the UN also condemned Col Gaddafi, calling him a war criminal responsible for mass shootings of demonstrators.
"We are sure that what is going on now in Libya is crimes against humanity and crimes of war," said Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libya's deputy permanent representative at the UN.
"It is impossible to stay silent and we have to transfer the voice of the Libyan people to the world," Mr Dabbashi added, backed by 12 of his colleagues.
Libya's envoy to the Arab League, Abdel Moneim al-Honi, announced he was "joining the revolution", while the ambassador to India, Ali al-Essawi, resigned after claiming the government was using foreign mercenaries to crack down on protesters.
Mohamed Bayou, who until a month ago was chief spokesman for the Libyan government, said the leadership was wrong to threaten violence against its opponents.
With tribal leaders also condemning Col Gaddafi's rule, the uprising has seen several cities in the east of Libya fall under opposition rule.
Julien Barnes-Dacey, a Middle East analyst at Control Risks, said: "These really seem to be last, desperate acts. If you're bombing your own capital, it's really hard to see how you can survive. But I think Gaddafi is going to put up a fight."
UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon spoke to Col Gaddafi yesterday and warned him the violence "must stop immediately," a UN spokesman said. The escalation of the protests - the bloodiest yet in a series of revolts in the Arab world - prompted Prime Minister David Cameron to condemn as "completely appalling" the violent repression, which has left more than 200 people dead.
Gaddafi orders air force to bomb his own people - Scotsman.com News
