Advertisement
Close to play

Moamer Kadhafi toured the streets of Tripoli as NATO warplanes carried

In a 4x4 convertible with sunglasses and a hat for hunting, Gaddafi welcomed the audience with his fists as a show of defiance amid intensified diplomatic efforts by Western governments involved in an air war to dislodge. 

"God, Libya, Muammar and anyone else," supporters chanted as loud explosions rocked the neighborhood of Bab al-Aziziya, where Gadhafi has his residence and most foreign journalists are based in the capital. 
The cracks in the Western alliance that Washington rejected the French appeal for more help with the implementation of Security Council resolution authorizing all necessary means to protect civilians Libyans. 
NATO initially denied that they had again bombed the Libyan capital, but later a spokesman for the alliance acknowledged that the attacks were aimed at the periphery. 
"Reports last minute the mission of pilots returning from Libya show that seem to be two additional attacks were conducted against targets near Tripoli," said a NATO official told AFP on condition of anonymity. 
The official said the alliance is still trying to figure out if the strike took place in Tripoli. 
Scene: Libya halting rebels under the protection of NATO air 
He denied NATO was trying to cover up the attack: "We're never going to cover the actions we are taking to protect civilians." 
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe made a personal appeal to the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Washington to resume major air raids in Libya, but said his statement was rejected. 
"I told him I needed them again, we would have liked to return," Juppe said, adding that Clinton said that U.S. planes to continue to fly on a case by case. 
Washington withdrew about 50 combat aircraft operations in Libya last week after handing over control of the NATO mission, but has since been involved in some missions to take our air defense systems Gaddafi. 
The port area of ​​the third Misrata besieged city of Libya came under strong attack by the forces of Gaddafi, who fired dozens of Grad missiles and tank shells killed at least 13 people and wounded 50, a rebel spokesman said. 
The key crossroads city of Ajdabiya in the front line between the West by eastern rebels and especially the power of government, "captured by forces loyal to the weekend, came under renewed assault, an AFP correspondent. 
In Cairo, UN chief Ban Ki-moon called a "policy" and resolution of immediate ceasefire, an international conference organized by the Arab League. 
European Union foreign policy, Catherine Ashton, who also attended the Cairo conference, Gaddafi called on to resign with immediate effect. 
And a NATO statement said "We welcome the results of the first contact group meeting held yesterday (Wednesday) in (the capital of Qatar) Doha and strongly support its call for Gadhafi to quit power. " 
NATO foreign ministers played down any rift after France and Britain pressed allies to contribute more combat aircraft to the mission and intensified attacks against civilians tanks and artillery system. 
"We are also sharing the same goal: to see the end of the Gaddafi regime in Libya. And we are helping in many ways to see that goal realized, "said U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. 
She later told the NATO allies: "For our part, the U.S. is committed to our shared mission strongly supported the coalition until our work is done.." 
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, whose country stunned allies by refusing to support the UN resolution authorizing military operation, NATO said it supports the aspirations of the Libyan people. 
"We are united by a common goal, we want a free and democratic country Libya. The dictator Gaddafi, who started a civil war against its own people, has to go," said Westerwelle at the start of the two-day meeting in Berlin. 
But differences remained over the air strikes against the forces that threaten the population, carried out in only six of the 28 allies. The rebels have asked NATO to intensify the air campaign, the mission is not to change the balance of power until now. 
Focus: Arms for Libya divisions rebels fighting coalition Gaddafi 
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday's meeting in Qatar of the International Contact Group on Libya, which promised the rebels in cash and the means to defend themselves, "raised a good base." 
"Now let's discuss how we can continue the military operation that leads to a successful outcome," he said. 
Military action was first launched by Britain, France and the United States on March 19, but NATO took charge of the operation two weeks ago after overcoming French reserves allow the Western alliance's military organization than lead. 
The Berlin meeting of NATO jets put on a show of force in the first line with reports that rebels were subjected to bombing in the road leading west to the city of oil refineries in the key of Brega central Mediterranean coast. 
An AFP correspondent heard heavy explosions just west of the city of Ajdabiya, where exchanges deadly havoc in dozens Saturday and Sunday murder of loyalist troops and an unknown number of rebel fighters. 
There was no immediate confirmation from NATO warplanes were committed under his command. 
the third largest city in Libya Misrata, where NATO planes have been bombing Gaddafi forces in an attempt to break the siege weeks old, was told by the rebels of being under heavy attack. 
Scene: Misrata almost normal life, despite the bombs and siege 
"We have faced since the dawn of a cowardly and criminal attack in the port area and Ahmed Kasr district near the port," a rebel spokesman said, adding that the pro-Gaddafi fired dozens of Grad missiles and tank shells . 
"The figure obviously going to get worse. We're still looking for other victims in the rubble of the houses," he said, reached by telephone. 
The besieged city gained some relief, but with the arrival of a French ship of the Red Cross with 80 tons of food and medical supplies, the aid group said. 
The aid has been delivered to the Red Crescent, which will distribute it to residents, displaced foreigners, including Egyptians, Ghanaians and Chadians, and some European awaiting evacuation, he said.