Two days ago Muammar Gaddafi's regime promised an "immediate ceasefire" and an end to all military operations in Libya. This promise has turned out to be false, and can only be dismissed as bluff. It has to be treated as a blatant attempt to distract the international forces from getting into action, to carry out their intended aim of stopping the regime forces harming Libyan civilians.
Despite the foreign minister's promise of a ceasefire, yesterday government forces were shelling Benghazi, and there were reports of fighting well to the south of the city as the government forces are trying to encircle it. In addition, a warplane was shot down over Benghazi.
It is clear that Gaddafi's forces are determined to regain control of the whole of the country before any international forces are able to muster and get into action. They want to carry out their leader's desire to take revenge on the hapless civilians of Benghazi and other areas where the rebellion took root and flourished.
It is important that the international forces, with their regional partners, move as quickly as possible to implement UN Resolution 1973. Gaddafi's actions have shocked the world, but the people of Benghazi need action today, not tomorrow. Delay is not acceptable. Obviously implementing the resolution will take considerable coordination as gathering any multi-national force is a necessarily complicated task.
But the leading nations in that UN-approved endeavour should feel ready to move ahead and start to send their message to Gaddafi. The Libyan leader and anyone continuing to fight for him, should see that the international community is mustering to deal with his crimes against humanity.
