Sarkozy proposes air strikes in Libya

PARIS, Thursday

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will propose air strikes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s command headquarters to EU leaders, a source close to discussions told AFP on Thursday.

At an EU summit on the Libyan crisis, he will propose “striking an extremely limited number of points which are the source of the most deadly operations” by forces loyal to Kadhafi, said the source, who asked not to be named.

The three sites being considered are Gaddafi’s Bab al-Azizia command headquarters in Tripoli, a military air base in Syrte, east of Tripoli and another in Sebha in the south, the source added.

In Tripoli, Libyan state media reported today a “grave secret” will prompt the fall of Sarkozy.

“The Jamahiriya news agency has learned of a grave secret that will trigger the fall of Sarkozy, maybe his trial in connection with fundings for his presidential campaign,” state television reported.

The “urgent” statement was displayed on state television’s shortly after France became the first country to officially recognise the self-proclaimed rebel national council.

“France has recognised the national transition council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people,” one of the opposition movement’s envoys, Ali al-Issawi, told reporters after meeting with Sarkozy on Thursday.

“On the basis of this recognition, we are going to open a diplomatic mission, that is our own embassy in Paris, and an ambassador from France will be sent to Benghazi,” a key rebel-held city, he added.

A French presidential official confirmed Issawi’s statement but declined to give further details. Late on Thursday, Libya said it is planning to cut its diplomatic relations with France.

Meanwhile, Gaddafi’s forces sent rebel forces fleeing from a key oil hub today and recaptured a town near Tripoli, as the Red Cross warned the conflict in Libya had escalated into civil war.

With their fighters in retreat, the opposition appealed to Western powers meeting in Brussels to follow the lead of France by recognising the rebel national council as Libya’s “legitimate representative.”

Rebels packed into dozens of vehicles and, under rocket fire, fled from Ras Lanuf, a coastal oil town in eastern Libya they had captured last Friday, AFP reporters said.

The vehicles streamed east from the town after hours of heavy shelling and rocket attacks that swept from the western outskirts of Ras Lanuf to the east.

Other groups of rebels appeared to stay in town, but dejected fighters in the exodus said they had been defeated as rockets exploded and there was at least one air strike.

“We’ve been defeated. They are shelling and we are running away. That means that they’re taking Ras Lanuf,” said a rebel fighter, dressed in military fatigues who gave his name as Osama.

At least four rockets struck the centre of the town earlier, prompting medics to hurriedly evacuate the hospital, crushing into ambulances with patients and speeding away.

Doctor Mahmud Zubi was the only man left after everyone fled the hospital, besides the body of a man laid out on a stretcher, his nose and the top of his head blown away, and puddles of blood on the floor.

“We have evacuated the hospital. They were shelling us. It’s only me here,” the doctor told AFP. Rebel fighters boarded pick-up trucks and drove out of town.

“They’re getting too close. Some of us are still there, but a lot of us are pulling out. They’re getting too close,” shouted one rebel.

As Kadhafi’s forces advanced, two pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns crashed into each other on the outskirts of Ras Lanuf as they revved up in panic to retreat.

Fighting in eastern Libya has killed at least 400 people and wounded 2,000 since February 17, medics there said.

In western Libya, an intense battle for control of Zawiyah, a prosperous dormitory town 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Tripoli, ended in victory for Kadhafi’s forces Wednesday night, a number of sources said on Thursday.

“The town is now under the army’s control,” said a resident reached by telephone, who asked to remain anonymous.

“The fighting ended last night. Today the situation is calm. I’m taking the opportunity to leave the town with my family. I’m heading for Jedayem,” he added, referring to a small village three kilometres west of Zawiyah.