Libya: UK joins in second night of missile strikes

The UK says Col Gaddafi remains in breach of last week's United Nations resolution

 

 

UK troops have taken part in a second night of missile strikes against Libya.

Tomahawk missiles were fired from a British submarine in the Mediterranean for the second time. RAF Tornados flew a bombing mission on the first night.

The UK is part of an international coalition, also including the US and France, trying to protect civilians from attacks by Col Gaddafi's forces.

The Libyan military said it had ordered a ceasefire across the entire country from 2100 local time (1900 GMT).

Col Muammar Gaddafi's government had ordered a ceasefire on Friday, which was broken within hours, prompting the coalition's first attacks on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the government was monitoring the situation closely after Libya's latest ceasefire announcement.

On Sunday evening, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced missiles had been fired from a British submarine in another co-ordinated strike against Libyan air defence systems.

Several Tornados have also taken off from RAF Marham in Norfolk on Sunday, while Typhoon jets are on stand-by in Italy.

Flights from the Norfolk base during the first night of operations, which targeted an "integrated air defence system" in Libya, represented the longest-range bombing mission carried out by the RAF since the 1982 Falklands War.

Hercules aircraft have also left RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, believed to be heading to the Mediterranean with equipment and supplies.

The Chief of Defence Staff's strategic communications officer Maj Gen John Lorimer said RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus continued to support the operation with a number of assets, including E-3D Sentry, Sentinel and VC10 planes.

French jets launched a second day of operations on Sunday but their planes did not open fire because they met no resistance.

Explosions heard

In the last few hours, several explosions have been heard around the Libyan capital Tripoli, and witnesses have reported seeing a column of smoke in the area of Col Gaddafi's military base and compound.

On Sunday evening, the government held its first meeting of a new National Security Council sub-committee on Libya.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said early indications suggested the first night's operation was "very successful".

The UK launched Tomahawk missiles from a Trafalgar class Royal Navy submarine, aimed at targets around the coastal cities of Tripoli and Misrata.

A British Trafalgar class submarine of the type in action in Libya, pictured recently

Some 124 missiles were fired by the US and UK, and hit 20 of 22 targets causing "various levels of damage", the US military said on Sunday.

There would be further air strikes, "if necessary", with the aim of "paralysing" the regime's ability to attack its people, Dr Fox said.

Asked how long the campaign would take, he said he hoped it would be over as "quickly as possible".

As well as the submarine involved in the operation, two Royal Navy ships are taking part in a naval blockade.

'Appalling brutality'

The build-up of forces to enforce the UN-mandated no-fly zone continues, with Qatar due to become the first Arab country to play an active part by sending four planes.

The French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has left the Mediterranean port of Toulon for Libya, while Denmark and Norway are each sending six planes. Spain has sent at least three planes, plus a refuelling aircraft, while Italy also has jets ready to deploy.

A Libyan government spokesman has described the coalition attacks as "aggression without excuse" and claimed many civilians had been hurt.

The head of the Arab League, who supported the idea of a no-fly zone, has criticised the severity of the coalition bombardment.

"What is happening in Libya differs from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone, and what we want is the protection of civilians and not the bombardment of more civilians," said Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

The military action follows the passing of a UN resolution imposing 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".

Col Gaddafi has ruled Libya for more than 40 years. An uprising against him began last month after the long-time leaders of neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt were toppled.