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18 March 2011
Last updated at 07:55 ET
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David Cameron: "The UN Security Council has reached its decision, there is a responsibility... to respond"
David Cameron has said Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets are being deployed to help protect the Libyan people from "brutal" attacks by the Gaddafi regime.
The prime minister said preparations were already underway for a joint operation led by the UK, France and US.
It follows a UN resolution authorising "all measures necessary" short of sending in ground troops.
Mr Cameron said there was a "clear and unequivocal" legal basis for action, which is being supported by Labour.
A French government spokesmen has said initial air raids on Libyan positions could take place "within a few hours".
'Bloodbath' While not giving specific details of military preparations, Mr Cameron said the UK would "play its part" in enforcing the will of the international community.
"Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action," he said.
He called on the Libyan leader to comply with a UN resolution agreed on Thursday - calling for an immediate ceasefire and attacks on civilians - and that if he did not so action would begin on an "appropriate timescale".
The prime minister insisted the UN resolution was "very clear" in its aims to bring hostilities in Libya to an end and to protect civilians from what he said was a possible "bloodbath" in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.
Asked whether this endorsed regime change, he said he continued to believe Libya had no future with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in power.
Earlier, the prime minister chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet, attended by senior military commanders, to discuss the situation.
BBC Defence Correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the UK and its allies had to decide what their initial targets would be and who would carry them out.
Government sources have indicated that MPs will be given the chance to vote on the UK's involvement in military action on Monday.
The BBC's Political Correspondent Norman Smith said senior Lib Dem ministers in the coalition government were "strongly supportive" of the UN's decision and that party leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg would address his MPs on the issue later on Friday.
Business Secretary Vince Cable has said Libya is a wholly different situation from Iraq and that the government is acting for humanitarian reasons. He says he fully supports the decision.
The UN resolution imposes a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace, excluding aid flights.
It authorises member states to "take all necessary measures" to "protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack" short of putting an "occupation force" on the ground.
The resolution - which also calls for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and a tightening of sanctions against the Gaddafi regime - would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians.
Ten UN Security Council members backed the resolution while five - including China, Russia and Germany - abstained
The Gaddafi regime - whose forces have recently retaken several towns seized by rebels since February's uprising began - have reacted defiantly to the UN initiative, claiming the resolution was "unfair" and that their supporters were "not afraid".
But rebel forces in Benghazi, the opposition stronghold that came under attack for the first time on Thursday, reacted with joy to the passing of the resolution.
Col Gaddafi had earlier warned the rebels there that his troops were heading to the city and to expect "no mercy".
Are you in Libya? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.David Cameron: "The UN Security Council has reached its decision, there is a responsibility... to respond"
David Cameron has said Tornado and Typhoon fighter jets are being deployed to help protect the Libyan people from "brutal" attacks by the Gaddafi regime.
The prime minister said preparations were already underway for a joint operation led by the UK, France and US.
It follows a UN resolution authorising "all measures necessary" short of sending in ground troops.
Mr Cameron said there was a "clear and unequivocal" legal basis for action, which is being supported by Labour.
A French government spokesmen has said initial air raids on Libyan positions could take place "within a few hours".
'Bloodbath' While not giving specific details of military preparations, Mr Cameron said the UK would "play its part" in enforcing the will of the international community.
"Preparations to deploy these aircraft have already started and in the coming hours they will move to airbases from where they can start to take the necessary action," he said.
He called on the Libyan leader to comply with a UN resolution agreed on Thursday - calling for an immediate ceasefire and attacks on civilians - and that if he did not so action would begin on an "appropriate timescale".
The prime minister insisted the UN resolution was "very clear" in its aims to bring hostilities in Libya to an end and to protect civilians from what he said was a possible "bloodbath" in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.
Asked whether this endorsed regime change, he said he continued to believe Libya had no future with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in power.
Earlier, the prime minister chaired an emergency meeting of the Cabinet, attended by senior military commanders, to discuss the situation.
BBC Defence Correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the UK and its allies had to decide what their initial targets would be and who would carry them out.
Government sources have indicated that MPs will be given the chance to vote on the UK's involvement in military action on Monday.
The BBC's Political Correspondent Norman Smith said senior Lib Dem ministers in the coalition government were "strongly supportive" of the UN's decision and that party leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg would address his MPs on the issue later on Friday.
Business Secretary Vince Cable has said Libya is a wholly different situation from Iraq and that the government is acting for humanitarian reasons. He says he fully supports the decision.
The UN resolution imposes a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace, excluding aid flights.
It authorises member states to "take all necessary measures" to "protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack" short of putting an "occupation force" on the ground.
The resolution - which also calls for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and a tightening of sanctions against the Gaddafi regime - would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians.
Ten UN Security Council members backed the resolution while five - including China, Russia and Germany - abstained
The Gaddafi regime - whose forces have recently retaken several towns seized by rebels since February's uprising began - have reacted defiantly to the UN initiative, claiming the resolution was "unfair" and that their supporters were "not afraid".
But rebel forces in Benghazi, the opposition stronghold that came under attack for the first time on Thursday, reacted with joy to the passing of the resolution.
Col Gaddafi had earlier warned the rebels there that his troops were heading to the city and to expect "no mercy".
Are you in Libya? Send us your experiences using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
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