Gaddafi vows to fight on despite onslaught

• US claims no-fly zone is now in place after strikes against Libya • State TV reports 48 dead after missiles strike military targets • Gaddafi vowes to fight the onslaught ‘inch by inch’ • Read the latest summary of events • Read the Guardian’s latest Libya news story 12.31pm: Our Middle East editor Ian Black says Libyan state television is reporting hits on targets such as radar installations and a hospital to the east of Tripoli, incidents remain unverified as media access to evidence has been limited. What’s quite striking at this stage is although there’s been some very fleeting pictures on Libyan TV of people injured, there’s been no media access of any kind to see either dead or injured who’ve supposedly been targeted and hit, so the media is waiting for direct evidence of those things. 12.19pm: A no-fly zone is now officially in place over Libya. The US chair of the Joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, told the NBC news station that Libyan government air defences had been “taken out” and there was no sign of Libyan aircraft. “Operations yesterday went very well,” Mullen said. “He [Gaddafi] hasn’t had aircraft or helicopters flying the last couple days. So effectively that no-fly zone has been put in place.” 12 noon: Good afternoon and welcome to our continuing coverage of the military intervention in Libya. You can read our earlier live blog here . • American and European military commanders are assessing the effect of the bombardment of Libyan targets. Overnight 110 cruise missiles were launched, and one large airbase alone is reported to have been hit with 40 bombs. “Effectively a no-fly zone has been put in place,” said Mike Mullen, US chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. • Libyan state TV has said there are 48 dead and 150 wounded from the attacks. Speaking from his Bab al-Azizia military compound on the southern outskirts of Tripoli, which was bombed in 1986, Muammar Gaddafi vowed to fight the onslaught “inch by inch”. He spoke of the “glorious hours we are living” in a 15 minute speech. Thousands of his supporters have joined him at the barracks. • China and Russia have condemned the attacks Both had abstained from the UN security council vote approving military action against Libya. The Arab League also called for a ceasefire, and the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, led a chorus of protest by Libya’s Latin American allies. • Aircraft continue to arrive at Mediterranean bases from allied countries including Canada, Denmark and Spain. Libya Muammar Gaddafi Arab and Middle East protests Middle East Military Jo Adetunji guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 20, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.