US-led air strikes on Libya persist

One of three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returns to the US, March 20, 2011 after striking targets in Libya

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/171158.html

US-led coalition forces have bombarded Libya for a third consecutive night, targeting air and ground forces of Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

Libyan state television reported that several sites in Tripoli and eastern Libya were targeted on Monday with Gaddafi forces retaliating with heavy anti-aircraft fire.

The strikes, however, failed to free the cities of Ajdabiyah and Misratah, which remain surrounded by Gaddafi's forces.

The US says that it seeks to stop the Libyan regime's forces from attacking civilians, but dozens of civilians have already been killed in Libya since the US, Britain, France and some other Western countries initiated their attacks on the North African country.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Monday criticized the US-led airstrikes on Libya and said the bombardments violated a UN Security Council resolution adopted to protect Libyan civilians.

"What is happening in Libya differs from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone, and what we want is the protection of civilians and not the bombardment of more civilians," Moussa said at a joint press conference with UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

“This is unacceptable. The Security Council has an authority and bears responsibility in this matter -- so we gave this matter over to the Security Council as the authority for international peace and security and for this reason we requested a resolution and supported this resolution," he added.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. But some analysts say the US air raids go beyond the resolution and must stop.