Gaddafi makes defiant TV speech

Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has made a defiant speech, blaming outside forces for the uprising in the country, as government forces pounded the western city of Zawiya.
Col Gaddafi said European governments and al-Qaeda had incited Libyan youth to revolt.
Meanwhile, pro-Gaddafi forces shelled Zawiya's suburbs and tried to gain control of the main square.
The US has said any decision on a no-fly zone over Libya rests with the UN.
More than 1,000 people are believed to have died since rebels began their uprising nearly three weeks ago to end Col Gaddafi's 41 years in power. About 212,000 people - most of them migrant workers - have fled the country, the UN estimates.'Rambling' speechIn the early hours of Wednesday morning, Libyan state TV showed pictures of Col Gaddafi speaking to tribal supporters. He said European governments and al-Qaeda were trying to divide the country.
"There is no choice for the people of Benghazi but to go out on the streets - men, women and children to rid Benghazi of this betrayal," Col Gaddafi said. "Benghazi, which used to be beautiful, is turning into ruins. It must be liberated."Continue reading the main story

• Libya conflict in maps

The eastern city of Benghazi has become the headquarters for the revolt.
The BBC's Wyre Davies, in Tripoli, says the Libyan leader appeared in increasingly confident and belligerent mood.
In what our correspondent describes as a typically rambling speech, the colonel showed no sign of a willingness to compromise or talk to the opposition.
In a separate interview for the French TV news channel LCI, Col Gaddafi labelled the uprising a "colonialist plot".
"I cannot fight against my people, that's a lie by colonising countries: France, Britain, the Americans," he said.
The city of Zawiya, which fell to the rebels two weeks ago, is almost completely cut off by government forces. However, there were reports of heavy shelling and considerable loss of life, as the rebels tried to repel a huge onslaught by pro-Gaddafi troops.
One resident spoke of seeing 50 tanks and dozens of pick-up trucks loaded with pro-Gaddafi troops. The main hospital was said to have been overwhelmed with casualties.
"There are many dead people and they can't even bury them," a fighter called Ibrahim told the Reuters news agency. "Zawiya is deserted. There's nobody on the streets. No animals, not even birds in the sky," he said.
In eastern Libya, rebel forces in the oil port of Ras Lanuf came under frequent air and artillery attacks. At least 30 people were reported injured.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Benghazi, says the rebels are holding on, despite the pounding from government forces.
In Zawiya, the army is having to flatten the whole town to put down uprising, our correspondent says, and Col Gaddafi is using a substantial chunk of his army there.OptionsCalls for military intervention are growing as pro-Gaddafi forces step up their counter-offensive.
However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has cautioned that any decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya should be made by the UN and not by Washington.
Mrs Clinton said it was important such a move came from the Libyan people, rather than being a US-led effort.
A no-fly zone would probably ban military flights by government forces through Libyan airspace. Any aircraft violating the exclusion zone would risk being shot down by international forces.
No-fly zones were imposed on southern and northern Iraq in the wake of the first Gulf war in 1991, and during the war in Bosnia in 1994-95.
US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron discussed a possible no-fly zone on Tuesday, but both countries maintain that any intervention must have wide international support.
A White House statement said the two leaders discussed a "full spectrum of possible responses" in their telephone call.
It is believed other options include more surveillance, humanitarian help and the enforcement of an arms embargo on Libya.
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "We have got to prepare for what we might have to do if he (Gaddafi) goes on brutalising his own people."
The UK and France are working on a UN Security Council resolution for a no-fly zone; however, Russia has already stated its opposition to military intervention.
Nato defence ministers will discuss options for Libya on Thursday and Friday.
In Washington, President Obama has faced criticism that he is being too cautious over the turmoil in Libya.
Republican Senator John McCain said: "Every day and every hour that goes by, innocent Libyans are being attacked and massacred from the air."
Calls for a no-fly zone have also come from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim-majority countries, and Gulf Arab states.

Libya no-fly zone a UN decision, says Hillary Clinton
International calls are growing for a no-fly zone over Libya, as Col Gaddafi made another TV appearance

Any decision to impose a no-fly zone over Libya should be made by the UN and not by Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.
Mrs Clinton said it was important such a move came from the Libyan people, rather than being a US-led effort.
Calls for military intervention are growing as pro-Gaddafi forces bombard areas held by Libyan rebels.
Meanwhile, Col Gaddafi has made a defiant speech on Libyan TV, labelling rebels and opposition leaders traitors.
Adressing a room full of cheering supporters he again claimed that the rebels had been brainwashed by al-Qaeda.
The rebel forces are fighting to end Col Gaddafi's 41 years in power, and more than 1,000 people are believed to have died. Some 200,000 others have been displaced by the fighting.
Rebel fighters have been pushed back by pro-Gaddafi government forcesMrs Clinton reiterated her government's call for Col Gaddafi to step down peacefully, but warned that the crisis in Libya could be protracted.
"I think it's very important that this not be a US-led effort, because this comes from the people of Libya themselves," Mrs Clinton told Sky News.
"We are going to support the efforts that are being made, because we think that the people of Libya themselves have to be supported, and we know how difficult this struggle is."'Full spectrum'US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron discussed a possible no-fly zone on Tuesday, but both countries maintain that any intervention must have wide international support.


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John McCain: "They are pleading with us to enact a no-fly zone"
A White House statement said the two leaders discussed a "full spectrum of possible responses" in their telephone call.
It is believed other options include more surveillance, humanitarian help and the enforcement of an arms embargo on Libya.
Mr Cameron told the BBC: "We have got to prepare for what we might have to do if he (Gaddafi) goes on brutalising his own people."
The UK and France are working on a UN Security Council resolution for a no-fly zone, however Russia has already stated its opposition to military intervention.
Nato defence ministers will discuss options for Libya on Thursday and Friday.
In Washington, President Obama has faced criticism that he is being too cautious over the turmoil in Libya.
Republican Senator John McCain said: "Every day and every hour that goes by, innocent Libyans are being attacked and massacred from the air."Continue reading the main story
Calls for a no-fly zone have also come from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which represents Muslim countries, and Gulf Arab states.
In Tripoli on Tuesday night, Col Gaddafi arrived at a hotel surrounded by tight security and held exclusive interviews with Turkish and French television stations.
He then left without addressing other journalists, some of whom had been waiting several hours to hear him.
On Tuesday, forces loyal to Col Gaddafi bombarded the rebel-held western town of Zawiya all day, shelling its suburbs with tank and artillery fire and trying to seize control of the town's main square.
One resident spoke of seeing 50 tanks and dozens of pick-up trucks loaded with pro-Gaddafi troops.
The main hospital is said to have been overwhelmed with casualties.
"I don't know how many are dead - they tore Zawiya down to ashes," a source in the town told the BBC.
In eastern Libya, rebel forces in the oil port of Ras Lanuf came under frequent air and artillery attacks. At least 30 people were reported injured.
The BBC's Wyre Davies in Tripoli says Col Gaddafi's forces are making significant military gains, consolidating their hold on western Libya.
In other developments, the European Union is expected to widen sanctions against Libya to include its sovereign wealth funds and central bank, EU officials say.
The sanctions, due to go into effect on Friday, will restrict Libyan organisations that hold stakes in a host of European companies, AP news agency reported.
The move goes beyond those sanctions already approved by the UN Security Council which targeted Col Gaddafi and his family and associates.
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Libya revolt: Gaddafi in crimes against humanity probe

Col Gaddafi has said he will fight to the death

Continue reading the main story

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The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said he will investigate Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his sons and senior aides for crimes against humanity.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said no-one had the right to massacre civilians.

Thousands of people are thought to have died in the violence after security forces targeted protesters in unrest which began on 17 February.

Col Gaddafi vowed to fight on despite losing control of much of the country.

Earlier on Wednesday his forces launched air strikes on the oil terminal town of Brega, sources in the town said.

The strikes come a day after clashes between rebels and government troops in the town in which 14 people died.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo said Col Gaddafi, his inner circle and some of his sons with de facto authority would be investigated.

"The office of the prosecutor decided to open an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity committed in Libya since 15 February," he said.

"Delegations of peaceful demonstrators were attacked by security forces.

"During the coming weeks the office will investigate who are the most responsible for the most serious incidents, for the most serious crimes committed in Libya."

But the prosecutor also said the oppposition would be investigated if it