Gaddafi under pressure as his forces fail to take back key port

PRESSURE on Muammar Gaddafi’s regime was increasing both in and outside Libya as rebel forces fought off an attempt to retake a key oil installation while an international court began investigating whether to charge the dictator and his inner circle with crimes against humanity.

A British-led rescue effort also continued in the crisis-torn country yesterday as 800 Egyptians were taken to Cairo on the three UK-chartered planes.

Around 2,000 people each day are expected to repatriated over a three-day operation.

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An attempt by forces loyal to Gaddafi to regain control of oil facilities and a port at Brega failed despite government warplanes launching a new air strike on the town yesterday.

In the opposition stronghold of Benghazi, east of the oil port, hundreds of mourners chanted “Down with Gaddafi” as they buried three of at least 14 rebel fighters killed in a battle two days ago.

“Our message to Gaddafi is we are coming and we will make Libya free,” protester Sami Mosur warned.

He added: “He is a criminal we are coming from to him from Benghazi, we are coming from everywhere. He is a killer.”

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Fighting in Libya could be set to reach a deadlock with Gaddafi’s forces seemingly unable to dislodge rebels from the territory they hold while the opposition lacks the capability to mount an offensive against his regime’s strongholds in the west, including the capital Tripoli.

Rebels are now appealing for international intervention to help oust the dictator.

However Gaddafi has warned the US and other Western powers not to intervene claiming his regime will turn Libya into “another Vietnam”.

Gaddafi’s forces have unleashed the bloodiest crackdown of any Arab nation to the wave of anti-government protests in the region. Hundreds are known to have been killed, and some estimates top 1,000.

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In the Netherlands, the top prosecutor at the Hague-based International Criminal Court said he would investigate Gaddafi and his inner circle, including some of his sons, for possible crimes against humanity in the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.

The British Government’s response to Libya was once again in the spotlight yesterday with claims of a row in Cabinet and suggestions that the UK was “out of step” with some of its key allies over planned intervention.

It has been reported that Education Secretary Michael Gove said Britain must be tougher in facing down dictators and supporting freedom around the world, and complained forcefully about the Foreign Office’s failure to foresee the crisis in the Arab world. However Mr Gove ducked the question yesterday when asked about the reported clash.

He said: “When it comes to questions like Libya and foreign policy, the Foreign Secretary is the expert.

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“I am interested in what happens abroad, but primarily because it helps me bring better education policies to this country.”

David Cameron’s official spokesman declined to go into the detail of Cabinet discussions yesterday.

Asked if the Cabinet was united behind Mr Cameron’s policies, he replied: “Absolutely. We have got a clear policy, which the Prime Minister set out – get the British nationals out; step up international diplomatic efforts to bring pressure on the regime; step up our humanitarian efforts; and continue planning for all eventualities.”

The spokesman would not say when the Chief of Defence Staff General Sir David Richards was expected to deliver his report to the Prime Minister on possible military options in Libya, including a no-fly zone.

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US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has criticised “loose talk” about the military options in Libya, and warned that imposing a no-fly zone would require attacks on air defence installations, with the risk of civilian casualties.

Mr Cameron has been a vocal advocate of the need to prepare for a no-fly zone but his comments have so far met with only a lukewarm response from other Western capitals.