48 dead, Gaddafi wants 'revenge'

Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/170834.html

Embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi has pledged to take revenge in response to the US-led war alliance's airstrikes and ship-launched missile attacks against the country.

Speaking in a brief audio message broadcast on state television early on Sunday morning, Gaddafi described the attacks as a "barbaric, unjustified Crusaders' aggression," AFP reported.

"Now the arms depots have been opened and all the Libyan people are being armed to fight against Western forces," he said.

Foreign forces launched airstrikes against Libya after officials of a number of countries meeting in Paris on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into Libya in order to end the assaults on civilians launched by Gaddafi's forces.

Representatives of the United States, Britain, France, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar attended the meeting.

Libyan state media has reported that at least 48 people have been killed in the attacks.

There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

The French intervention came after forces loyal to the Libyan ruler began closing in on revolutionaries in eastern Libya, despite a ceasefire declared by Gaddafi on Friday.

In addition, US and British forces fired a barrage of at least 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libya targeting Gaddafi's air defenses on Saturday. The missiles reportedly struck pro-government forces.

Libyan anti-government forces, inspired by revolutions that toppled authoritarian rulers in neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, are fighting to unseat Gaddafi after suffering under his despotic rule for over 41 years