The United States government has directed the Pentagon to move American war ships and planes currently in the Mediterranean closer to Libya. The move, reported by Reuters on Monday, is an indication that the Obama’s administration meant business when it says that Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gadhafi, must step down now.
The United States government has directed the Pentagon to move American war ships and planes currently in the Mediterranean closer to Libya. The move, reported by Reuters on Monday, is an indication that the Obama’s administration meant business when it says that Libyan leader, Col. Muammar Gadhafi, must step down now.
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Meanwhile, Gadhafi’s Airforce jets bombed rebel positions in the breakaway region of Misrata on Monday. MSNBC reported that one Air force jet was shut down by the rebels as they pushed back attacks from Gadhafi forces. The Guardian of London reported that rebel leaders were preparing for an attack on Tripoli. The rebels, the Guardian noted, were determined to unify the country but it was not clear when such attack on Tripoli would be.
In an interview with ABC’s Christiana Amanpour, Col. Gadhafi said that his soldiers were fighting terrorists in the Eastern part of the country. He denied that Libyans were protesting against his regime. “All my people love me,” Gadhafi declared. “They will die for me.”
The U.S ambassador to the U.N, Susan Rice, described Gadhafi as delusional for making those comments to ABC. According to the Associated Press, Ms. Rice said Gadhafi was disconnected from reality and must step down immediately.
The New York Times reported on Monday that the U.S. Treasury Department has seized over $30 billion in Libyan government assets since President Obama imposed unilateral sanctions on Friday. The international community hopes that freezing assets will dry up funds Gadhafi need to pay mercenaries fighting for him.
In an interview with the BBC, Gadhafi accused western nations of trying to recolonize Libya. He charged that countries that he had built a relationship with of betraying him. Sources close to the Gadhafi family said that Gadhafi and his children regretted giving up their nuclear bomb making materials. They complained that America did not fulfill its promise to supply Libya with conventional weapons as a reward for giving up its nuclear program.
Hillary Clinton, still meeting with European allies in Geneva warned that "nothing is off the table." Her British counterpart, William Hague, said there would be a "day of reckoning" for people involved in human rights abuses against protesters in Libya.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported Monday that Gaddafi's sons tried to get two Saudi clerics to issue religious ruling against the revolt that is threatening their father’s 42-year old rule.
Gadhafi's son Saif al-Islam contacted cleric, Salman al-Awda, while Saadi Gadhafi reached out to a second cleric, Ayedh al-Garni. They both rejected calls from Gadhafi’s children.
"You are killing the Libyan people. Turn to God because you are wronging them. Protect Libyan blood, you are killing old people and children. Fear God," Garni said he told Saadi.
In the United Kingdom, embattled Gaddafi tried to move about 900 million pounds on Sunday but the UK chancellor of the exchequer intervened blocked the move.
The monies were minted notes. The uncirculated bank note had been stored in a secured facility in the UK by Gaddafi. It was believed that the cash was headed for Eastern Libya where Gaddafi had completely lost control in recent days.
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