Artillery, air strikes in Benghazi as int`l summit convenes in Paris

Source:Led b2b   Date:2011-3-21  close   Printing

TRIPOLI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Sustained bombings shook Benghazi, the main rebel-held city in eastern Libya, while a fighter plane was shot down on Saturday, pan-Arab television broadcaster Al-Jazeera has reported.

Blasts were heard in the city from early morning, followed by the air strikes, the reports said.

Libya authorities on Friday declared a halt to all military operations in line with a UN resolution that imposed a no-fly zone over the North African country, but rebels claim attacks by pro-government forces have continued.

Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi`s forces used tanks and artillery fire in the latest offensive, Al-Jazeera reported, quoting witnesses as saying an artillery bombardment hit the center of Benghazi on Saturday.

It also reported that a fighter plane was shot down, sparking an explosion and a plume of black smoke.

In a statement posted by the official Jana news agency on Saturday, the Libyan government said its armed forces responded in self defense to attacks from the rebels.

The government also said the rebels violated the UN resolution by using a helicopter and a fighter jet to bomb Libyan armed forces.

The statement, however, did not say the Libyan air force bombed Benghazi nor confirm the downing of a war plane over the rebel-held city.

As it is hard for journalists to get access to the frontline, the Libyan government`s accusations against the rebels can not be independently verified.

Meanwhile, some world powers are preparing to militarily support the UN-backed no-fly zone despite Tripoli`s ceasefire declaration.

In Paris, an international summit is being held Saturday, grouping UN chief Ban Ki-moon, leaders or high-level decision-makers from several Western and Arab countries and representatives of the European Union, the Arab League and the African Union.

Attendees are expected to discuss detailed plans to enforce Thursday`s UN Security Council resolution on the Libya situation at the conference, which is being hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a leading advocate of military intervention.

The resolution "demands the immediate establishment of a ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians," and authorizes the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.

NATO ambassadors are also expected to meet over the weekend to fix details about the alliance`s participation after they reached consensus Friday on supporting the no-fly zone.