WASHINGTON/TRIPOLI – The United States is looking at a full range of options for Libya, US defence officials said yesterday, but no decisions have been made even as Washington steps up pressure on Col Muammar Gadafy to step down.
Defence secretary Robert Gates told reporters the Pentagon was moving two amphibious assault ships and hundreds of marines into the Mediterranean, where they could help with evacuation and humanitarian relief if that was needed.
Later, an Egyptian official confirmed two ships, the USS Kearsarge, which can carry 2,000 marines, and the USS Poncewould pass through the Suez Canal this morning.
There were growing suspicions that Col Gadafy, a survivor of past coup attempts, did not grasp the scale of the forces now forming against him.
“All my people love me,” he told the US ABC network and the BBC on Monday, dismissing the significance of a rebellion that has ended his control over much of oil-rich eastern Libya.
Rebel fighters claimed the balance of the conflict was swinging their way. “Our strength is growing and we are getting more weapons. We are attacking checkpoints,” said Yousef Shagan, a spokesman in Zawiyah, only 50km (30 miles) from Tripoli.
A rebel army officer in the eastern city of Ajdabiyah said rebel units were becoming more organised.
“All the military councils of Free Libya are meeting to form a unified military council to plan an attack on Gadafy security units, militias and mercenaries,” Capt Faris Zwei said.
Despite the widespread collapse of Gadafy’s writ, his forces have been fighting back in some regions. A reporter on the Tunisian border saw Libyan troops reassert control at a crossing that was abandoned on Monday, and residents of Nalut, about 60km (35 miles) from the border, said pro-Gadafy forces deployed to retake control there.
Mohamed, a resident of rebel-held Misrata, told Reuters by phone: “Symbols of Gadafy’s regime have been swept away from the city.
“Only a (pro-Gadafy) battalion remains at the city’s air base, but they appear to be willing to negotiate safe exit out of the air base. We are not sure if this is genuine or just a trick to attack the city again.”
Tripoli is Gadafy’s last stronghold. Tribal leaders, officials, military officers and army units have defected to the rebels. Sanctions will squeeze his access to funds.
Around the Libyan capital there were queues outside bread shops yesterday morning. Some residents said many shops were limiting the number of loaves customers could buy.
“The situation is nervous,” said Salah, a doctor. “Of course I am worried. My family is afraid. They are waiting at home. We have been hearing gunfire.”
A Tripoli resident said the main state television station, Jamahiriya, was no longer available on its usual satellite channel.
He said Libiya, another of Libya’s three television stations – which are all state-controlled – had told viewers Jamahiriya’s signal was being subjected to interference.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation said output had halved because of the departure of foreign workers.
Brent crude prices pushed back above $114 (€82.80) a barrel as supply disruptions and the potential for more unrest in the Middle East and North Africa kept investors on edge. – (Reuters)