Tweet
19 March 2011
Last updated at 12:15 ET
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.
Watch: David Cameron says Col Gaddafi must be stopped from the "slaughter of his own civilians"
Libyan leader Col Gaddafi has broken his own ceasefire and will now face the consequences of his actions, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Speaking after a summit of world leaders in Paris, Mr Cameron said "the time for action has come".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that his country's jets had already been deployed.
The UN Security Council has agreed to "all necessary measures", short of occupation, to protect civilians.
Mr Cameron described the meeting as a successful one, aimed at enforcing the will of the United Nations, and stressed that Arab countries had played a part.
"What is absolutely clear today is that Col Gaddafi has broken his word, has broken the ceasefire and continues to slaughter his own civilians," he said.
"This has to stop. We have to make it stop. I think it is vitally important that action takes place. That action takes place urgently."
He continued: "It is better to take this action than to risk the consequences of inaction, which is a further slaughter of civilians, and this dictator completely flouting the United Nations and its will."
Asked if military action would now go ahead, he said: "Gaddafi has made this happen. He has lied to the international community, he has promised a ceasefire, he has broken that ceasefire, he continues to brutalise his people, and so the time for action has come."
Despite the Libyan regime declaring a ceasefire, offensives are reportedly continuing in the rebel-held city of Benghazi.
There are reports that the city is under attack, and tanks have been seen on the streets.
Libyan officials have dismissed these reports as untrue, and said it would abide by the UN resolution and international observers could enter the country to verify the situation.
A meeting of the government's emergency management committee "Cobra" was held earlier in Downing Street, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The agenda was dominated by Libya but a spokeswoman said there were also discussions on events in Yemen and Bahrain.
Further details of the meeting are not being revealed, ahead of potential military action involving British forces against the Libyan regime.
Meanwhile the government's decision to pursue a no-fly zone was backed by Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Addressing a party conference in Scotland, he said: "We know in our hearts and in our heads when we see Colonel Gaddafi murdering his own people, it is right to take this action."
The commander in charge of planning for the no-fly zone will be US Adm Samuel Locklear, the BBC's Mark Urban has learned.
Two RAF Tornado aircraft were seen taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and landing at RAF Marham in Norfolk. The planes are now reportedly equipped with long-range fuel tanks.
Neither the Ministry of Defence nor Downing Street have yet confirmed whether any aircraft have left to join the no-fly zone operation.
UK warplanes The UN resolution imposes a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace, excluding aid flights, and 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.
It would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians.
The Tornado GR4 fighter jet, equipped with precision weapons, is among the first military assets the UK could use to defend a no-fly zone.
The planes are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, though it is not yet clear which military base they would ultimately fly from.
Options include bases in southern France, southern Italy or RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, or - with permission - Malta.
Typhoon warplanes, based at RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars, are most likely to be used in an air-to-air combat role. UK reconnaissance and refuelling planes are also being deployed.
MPs are to get the chance to vote on the UK's potential involvement at the end of a Commons debate on Monday.
Do you have friends or relatives in Libya? Send us your comments and 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
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | WordPress Plugin
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Watch: David Cameron says Col Gaddafi must be stopped from the "slaughter of his own civilians"
Libyan leader Col Gaddafi has broken his own ceasefire and will now face the consequences of his actions, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
Speaking after a summit of world leaders in Paris, Mr Cameron said "the time for action has come".
French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that his country's jets had already been deployed.
The UN Security Council has agreed to "all necessary measures", short of occupation, to protect civilians.
Mr Cameron described the meeting as a successful one, aimed at enforcing the will of the United Nations, and stressed that Arab countries had played a part.
"What is absolutely clear today is that Col Gaddafi has broken his word, has broken the ceasefire and continues to slaughter his own civilians," he said.
"This has to stop. We have to make it stop. I think it is vitally important that action takes place. That action takes place urgently."
He continued: "It is better to take this action than to risk the consequences of inaction, which is a further slaughter of civilians, and this dictator completely flouting the United Nations and its will."
Asked if military action would now go ahead, he said: "Gaddafi has made this happen. He has lied to the international community, he has promised a ceasefire, he has broken that ceasefire, he continues to brutalise his people, and so the time for action has come."
Despite the Libyan regime declaring a ceasefire, offensives are reportedly continuing in the rebel-held city of Benghazi.
There are reports that the city is under attack, and tanks have been seen on the streets.
Libyan officials have dismissed these reports as untrue, and said it would abide by the UN resolution and international observers could enter the country to verify the situation.
A meeting of the government's emergency management committee "Cobra" was held earlier in Downing Street, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The agenda was dominated by Libya but a spokeswoman said there were also discussions on events in Yemen and Bahrain.
Further details of the meeting are not being revealed, ahead of potential military action involving British forces against the Libyan regime.
Meanwhile the government's decision to pursue a no-fly zone was backed by Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Addressing a party conference in Scotland, he said: "We know in our hearts and in our heads when we see Colonel Gaddafi murdering his own people, it is right to take this action."
The commander in charge of planning for the no-fly zone will be US Adm Samuel Locklear, the BBC's Mark Urban has learned.
Two RAF Tornado aircraft were seen taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and landing at RAF Marham in Norfolk. The planes are now reportedly equipped with long-range fuel tanks.
Neither the Ministry of Defence nor Downing Street have yet confirmed whether any aircraft have left to join the no-fly zone operation.
UK warplanes The UN resolution imposes a ban on all flights in Libyan airspace, excluding aid flights, and 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.
It would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians.
The Tornado GR4 fighter jet, equipped with precision weapons, is among the first military assets the UK could use to defend a no-fly zone.
The planes are stationed at RAF Marham in Norfolk and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, though it is not yet clear which military base they would ultimately fly from.
Options include bases in southern France, southern Italy or RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, or - with permission - Malta.
Typhoon warplanes, based at RAF Coningsby and RAF Leuchars, are most likely to be used in an air-to-air combat role. UK reconnaissance and refuelling planes are also being deployed.
MPs are to get the chance to vote on the UK's potential involvement at the end of a Commons debate on Monday.
Do you have friends or relatives in Libya? Send us your comments and 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
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | WordPress Plugin