africom related news clips 18 march 2011

8/7/2019 AFRICOM Related News Clips 18 March 2011

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United States Africa CommandPublic Affairs Office18 March 2011

USAFRICOM - related news stories

TOP NEWS RELATED TO U.S. AFRICA COMMAND AND AFRICA

Security Council authorizes 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians in Libya (UNNews)The Security Council today effectively authorized the use of force in Libya to protectcivilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, which Colonel

Muammar Al-Qadhafi has reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revolt againsthis regime.

US, allies set for quick military action in Libya (AP)The Obama administration and America's allies have won an open-ended endorsementfrom the United Nations for military action in Libya, where Moammar Gadhafi's regimeis pressing to eliminate any opposition to his rule. Now they'll have to move fast.

U.S. support for U.N. Libya move opens new chapter (Reuters)The Obama administration strongly backed a U.N. vote on Thursday for a no-fly zoneand other help for Libyan rebels, hoping to reassert its faltering leadership on the crisisdespite misgivings among U.S. military planners and key lawmakers.

U.N. Approves Airstrikes to Halt Attacks by Qaddafi Forces (NYT)(Libya) The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday to authorize militaryaction, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery and a no-fly zone, arisky foreign intervention aimed at averting a bloody rout of rebels by forces loyal toCol. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

Italy to make bases available for Libya no-fly zone-source (Reuters)(Libya) Italy is ready to make its military bases available to enforce a U.N. Security

Counci resolution imposing a no-fly zone on Libya, an Italian government source toldReuters on Thursday.

Egypt Said to Arm Libya Rebels (Wall Street Journal)(Libya) Egypt's military has begun shipping arms over the border to Libyan rebels withWashington's knowledge, U.S. and Libyan rebel officials said.


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HRW report details Ivory Coast atrocities (UPI)(Ivory Coast) Troops loyal to Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo committed rapeand murder, and carried out executions, a Human Rights Watch report indicated.

Horrors in Ivory Coast(NYT Editorial)

(Ivory Coast) In Ivory Coast, an autocrats desperate bid to hang on to power has led tounspeakable atrocities and hundreds of deaths. Hundreds of thousands of people havebeen driven from their homes. The international community must move quickly to haltthis terror.

Gbagbo to Address Ivory Coast on AU Call to Cede Power(VOA)(Ivory Coast) Ivory Coast's incumbent president is expected to address the nation,possibly as early as Thursday, about African Union demands that he hand over powerto the internationally-recognized winner of November's presidential election. Thecountry's political crisis has driven more than 75,000 refugees across the border into

Liberia.

Somali Capital of Mogadishu Plans Presidential Elections by End of August

(Bloomberg)(Somalia) Somalias capital, Mogadishu, will hold a presidential election before the endof August, said Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, the speaker of parliament.

Up to 50 Somali pirates seize Indonesian ship (AFP)(Somalia) An unusually large group of 30 to 50 Somali pirates seized an Indonesianvessel and used it in a failed bid to hijack a second ship on Thursday, the EU naval

mission said.

North, South Sudan Agreed to Restart Talks After Suspension, Mbeki Says(Bloomberg)The presidents of north and south Sudan agreed to resume negotiations on futurerelations, five days after Southern Sudans ruling party said it was suspending the talks,the African Union said.

UN News Service Africa Briefs

Full Articles on UN Websitey Security Council authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in

Libyay Human rights key to successful elections, says UN official in West Africay Pro-Gbagbo forces shell market in Cte dIvoire, killing at least 25 UNy Protester killed in Darfur, UN-African Union mission reportsy Somalia: Security Council exempts humanitarian activities from sanctions

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UPCOMING EVENTS OF INTEREST:

WHEN/WHERE: Tuesday, March 22, 2011; 4:30 am to 6:00 pm; The BrookingsInstitution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, WDCWHAT: Ivory Coast on the Brink

WHO: Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights ofIDPs; Margaret McKelvey, Director of Office of Assistance for Africa, Under Secretaryfor Democracy and Global Affairs, US Department of State; Sarah Margon, AssociateDirector for Sustainable Security, Center for American Progress; Ann Hollingsworth,Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group.Info:https://www.cvent.com/events/ivory-coast-on-the-brink/registration-652bfc1260994399a90b1c6ffab4cd9d.aspx

WHEN/WHERE: Wednesday, March 23, 2011; 9:30 am to 11:00 am; Live Webcast bythe Woodrow Wilson Center

WHAT: The Future of Northern Sudan: An SPLM North SudanWHO: Steve McDonald, Consulting Director of the Africa Proram and the Project onLeadership and Building State Capacity; Alan Gouty, Senior Scholar, Woodrow WilsonCenter; Malik Agar Eyre, Governor of Blue Nile State; Abdel Aziz Adam el Hilu,Deputy Governor of Southern Kordofan; Yasir Said Arman, Secretary General of SPLM North SudanInfo:http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.event_summary&event_id=680563

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Security Council authorizes 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians in Libya (UNNews)March 17, 2011The Security Council today effectively authorized the use of force in Libya to protectcivilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, which ColonelMuammar Al-Qadhafi has reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revolt againsthis regime.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if

needed, the Council adopted a resolution by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions,authorizing Member States to take all necessary measures to protect civilians andcivilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, includingBenghazi, while excluding an occupation force.

The abstentions included China and Russia, which have the power of veto, as well asBrazil, Germany and India.


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Expressing grave concern at the deteriorating situation, the escalation of violence, andthe heavy civilian casualties, the Council established a no-fly zone, banning all flights except those for humanitarian purposes in Libyan airspace in order to help protectcivilians. It specifically calls on Arab League states to cooperate with other Member

States in taking the necessary measures.

The Arab League last weekend requested the Council to impose a no-fly zone after Mr.Qadhafi was reported to have used warplanes, warships, tanks and artillery to seizeback cities taken over in what started out a month ago as mass protests by peacefulcivilians seeking an end to his 41-year rule.

The resolution further strengthens an arms embargo that the Council imposed lastmonth when it unanimously approved sanctions against the Libyan authorities,freezing the assets of its leaders and referring the ongoing violent repression of civilian

demonstrators to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Council called on Member States today to ensure strict implementation of theembargo, including through inspection of suspect ships on the high seas and of planesgoing to or from Libya, deplored the flow of mercenaries into Libya whom, according tomedia reports, Mr. Qadhafi has recruited.

Demanding an immediate ceasefire and a complete end to violence and all attacksagainst and abuse of civilians, and condemning the gross and systematic violation ofhuman rights, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and summary

executions, the Council noted that the attacks currently taking place may amount tocrimes against humanity.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has already opened an investigation into Mr.Qadhafi, some of his sons and members of his inner circle for such crimes in repressingpeaceful protesters. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said Mr. Qadhafi lost hislegitimacy when he declared war on his people.

Mr. Ban spoke with Libyas Foreign Minister Musa Kusa by phone yesterday and,through him, urged the authorities to immediately halt the violence against civilians.

In its resolution, the Council condemned acts of violence and intimidation committedby the Libyan authorities against journalists, media professionals and associatedpersonnel, and the head of the UN agency entrusted with promoting the right tofreedom of expression today urged the authorities to respect human life and ensure thatcitizens are not denied their rights, notably the right of children to education in a safeenvironment.


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Just Thursday, speaking in Tunisia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said ano-fly zone would require action to protect the planes and pilots, "including bombingtargets like the Libyan defense systems." But pressed on by Britain and France, andbuoyed over the weekend by the surprise support of the Arab League, the no-fly optiongained traction and led to a swift reversal in position from the administration.

After the resolution, President Barack Obama spoke with French President NicolasSarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders "agreed that Libyamust immediately comply with all terms of the resolution and that violence against thecivilian population of Libya must cease," according to a White House statement.

"The leaders agreed to coordinate closely on next steps, and to continue working withArab and other international partners to ensure the enforcement of U.N. SecurityCouncil resolutions on Libya," it added.

Time is of the essence: Gadhafi vowed Thursday to launch a final assault on theopposition's capital Benghazi and crush the rebellion as his forces advanced toward thecity and warplanes bombed its airport.

And while the U.N. resolution's authorization of a no-fly zone over the country and "allnecessary measures" to protect civilians may add pressure on Gadhafi and show himthat far more powerful forces are coming, the unpredictable leader has refused to heedthe countless calls for him to step aside after 42 years in control of his country. And hehas pledged to fight to the death.

Even before the Security Council's 10-0 vote, the Obama administration readied plans toenforce the no-fly zone, with congressional officials describing a closed-door briefing inwhich the administration said it could ground Gadhafi's air force by Sunday orMonday. The effort likely will involve jet fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft,officials said, and the U.S. is keen to have Arab countries such as Jordan, Qatar and theUnited Arab Emirates participate in the operation.

Five nations abstained on the vote, including Russia and China. But the fact that neitherexercised their right to veto the resolution represented a major victory for the U.S. andits allies, who've often been stymied at the global body by countries fearful of grantingpowers that infringe on national sovereignty.

For Obama, the shift to international action comes as he faced increased criticism for notmoving aggressively enough to help the rebels trying to topple Gadhafi, long countedas among the world's most ruthless dictators. Some U.S. lawmakers demanded the no-fly zone, while others have proposed more strident measures such as supplying theopposition with arms.


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Three leading senators applauded the U.N. action.

"The administration deserves credit for getting this resolution passed with such strongsupport," said a joint statement from Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., John McCain, R-Ariz.,and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn. "This was an important step on behalf of the people of

Libya, but it will only be as effective as its implementation. With Gadhafi's forcesmoving towards Benghazi, we must immediately work with our friends in the ArabLeague and in NATO to enforce this resolution and turn the tide before it is too late."

The senators said they would also work to build bipartisan support for Obama to take"decisive measures to stop Gadhafi."

That backing was missing Thursday at a Senate hearing, as Sen. Mark Rubio, R-Fla., andothers criticized Obama and his national security aides for moving too slowly to cut offthe Libyan government's counteroffensive. Initially rocked by the revolt, the regime has

recently regained lost territory and set its sights on Benghazi, the last rebel stronghold.

William Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, said Gadhafi's forces "havemade significant strides on the ground over the course of the last 24, 48 hours ... takingfull advantage of their overwhelming military."

Ahead of the U.N. vote, several lawmakers hinted that a change in the U.S. approachmight be coming.

"If they (the rebels) can hold out another week, that may be the time necessary for the

international community to respond," Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, told reporters.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he believes President Barack Obama has authority tocommit U.S. forces to participate in the no-fly zone without congressional approval, buthe expressed hope that Congress would bless the move.

Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., the senior Republican on the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, had a different view.

"If the Obama administration decides to impose a no-fly zone or take other significantmilitary action in Libya, I believe it should first seek a congressional debate on adeclaration of war."------------------------U.S. support for U.N. Libya move opens new chapter (Reuters)By Andrew Quinn and Steve HollandMarch 17, 2011 8:10pm EDTWASHINGTON - The Obama administration strongly backed a U.N. vote on Thursdayfor a no-fly zone and other help for Libyan rebels, hoping to reassert its faltering


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leadership on the crisis despite misgivings among U.S. military planners and keylawmakers.

The Security Council vote could thrust the U.S. military into risky new overseas actionand follows a dramatic pivot by Washington, which had been accused of moving too

slowly to support Libyan rebels as Muammar Gaddafi's forces looked poised to snuffout their uprising.

The United States joined Britain, France and Lebanon in sponsoring the resolution,which authorized "all necessary measures" on Libya and passed by a vote of 10-0 withfive abstentions on the 15-member council.

U.S. officials said the Arab League's call for U.N. authorization of a no-fly zone was key,and Gaddafi's strengthening position on the ground helped build support within theadministration for the aggressive new steps.

But the Pentagon -- already stretched by operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -- hasdoubts and lawmakers worry the United States may be saddled with a new militarymission that has no clear endpoint short of Gaddafi's ouster.

"There was a genuine policy debate within the administration over whether to do thisor not. Whether it opens up more permanent rifts it's hard to say," said MarkQuartermain, a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

French diplomatic sources said military action could come within hours of the U.N.

vote, and might include France, Britain and possibly the United States and one or moreArab states. But a U.S. military official said no immediate U.S. action was expectedfollowing the decision.

While other nations or NATO may play roles in any eventual military action againstLibya, U.S. officials expect the United States with its extensive air and sea assets woulddo the heavy lifting in a campaign that could include air strikes against Libyan tanksand artillery.

JUST IN TIME OR TOO LATE

The Libyan opposition has appealed for immediate help to prevent its stronghold ofBenghazi from falling to forces loyal to Gaddafi. The question now facing PresidentBarack Obama and other world leaders is whether the action they are planning is toolittle, too late.


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Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have both said the U.S. goal is to seeGaddafi removed -- but it is unclear if the military options now on the table can achievethat, and if so, at what cost.

The Pentagon voiced concerns on Thursday about U.S. military engagement in Libya,

echoing recent comments from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and U.S. Air ForceGeneral Norton Schwartz who said it was " "overly optimistic" to say a no-fly zonecould be set up in a few days.

Nevertheless, the Obama administration decided to act after concluding the Libyanopposition was a positive force and that Gaddafi's rising stream of threats indicated areal threat to the United States beyond the unfolding humanitarian crisis inflicted on hispeople.

"If Gaddafi is successful, you also face a number of other considerable risks,"

Undersecretary of State William Burns told a Senate panel on Thursday, saying thoseincluded "the danger of him returning to terrorism and violent extremism," and fuelingturmoil across the Middle East.

Burns said the United States could support alternatives "short of boots on the ground"to achieve its aims in Libya.

Michele Dunne, a Middle East scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for InternationalPeace, said the balance of factors weighing in favor of intervention simply tipped.

"This was not an easy or simple mission of any kind. It is simply I think that theadministration finally decided that the alternative looked much worse," Dunne said.

Republican Senator Richard Lugar, one of the party's top foreign policy experts,expressed concern on Thursday over the costs of military action, the risk of escalation,the uncertain reception by Arabs, and the strains on the U.S. military - reflecting worriesamong both Republicans and Democrats.

Middle East expert Brian Katulis at the Center for American Progress said coming dayswould show whether the administration had "defined down" its goal of removingGaddafi, but that the fact Washington decided to intervene was key.

"Even if it saves one life, I think it's really important," Katulis said. "What's been goingon this week has been not only ensuring the solidity of the support, but then also tryingto talk about what sorts of contributions various countries might make towardachieving some sort of cessation of hostilities in Libya."------------------------U.N. Approves Airstrikes to Halt Attacks by Qaddafi Forces (NYT)


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By DAN BILEFSKY and MARK LANDLERMarch 17, 2011UNITED NATIONS The United Nations Security Council voted Thursday toauthorize military action, including airstrikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artilleryand a no-fly zone, a risky foreign intervention aimed at averting a bloody rout of rebels

by forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.

After days of often acrimonious debate, played out against a desperate clock, as ColonelQaddafis troops advanced to within 100 miles of the rebel capital of Benghazi, Libya,the Security Council authorized member nations to take all necessary measures toprotect civilians, diplomatic code words calling for military action.

Diplomats said the resolution which passed with 10 votes, including the UnitedStates, and abstentions from Russia, China, Germany, Brazil and India was written insweeping terms to allow for a wide range of actions, including strikes on air-defense

systems and missile attacks from ships. Military activity could get under way within amatter of hours, they said.

Benghazi erupted in celebration at news of the resolutions passage. We are embracingeach other, said Imam Bugaighis, spokeswoman for the rebel council in Benghazi.The people are euphoric. Although a bit late, the international society did not let usdown.

There was no immediate comment from the Libyan government. But the vote, whichcame after rising calls for help from the Arab world and anguished debate in

Washington, left unanswered many critical questions about who would take charge,what role the United States would play and whether there was still enough time to stopColonel Qaddafi from recapturing Benghazi and crushing a rebellion that had onceseemed likely to drive him from power. After the vote, President Obama met with theNational Security Council to discuss the possible options, European officials said.

Speaking on a radio call-in show in Tripoli on Thursday, Colonel Qaddafi raised thelevel of urgency on the vote, saying that his forces would begin an assault on Benghazithat night.

We will come house by house, room by room. Its over. The issue has been decided,he said, offering amnesty to those who laid down their arms. To those who continued toresist, he vowed: We will find you in your closets. We will have no mercy and nopity.

Its going to be tougher to stop Qaddafi today than it was a week ago, said James M.Lindsay, the director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. The issue is not


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going to be settled in the skies above Benghazi, but by taking out tanks, artillerypositions and multiple-launch rocket systems on the ground.

Mr. Lindsay said that would require helicopter gunships and other close-in supportaircraft rather than advanced fighter planes. Other analysts said repelling Colonel

Qaddafis forces might require ground troops, an option that has been flatly ruled outby Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other senior American officials.

A Pentagon official said Thursday that decisions were still being made about what kindof military action, if any, the United States might take with the allies against Libya. Theofficial said that contingency planning continued across a full range of operations,including a no-fly zone, but that it was unclear how much the United States wouldbecome involved beyond providing support.

That support is likely to consist of much of what the United States already has in the

region Awacs radar planes to help with air traffic control should there be airstrikes,other surveillance aircraft and about 400 Marines aboard two amphibious assault shipsin the region, the Kearsarge and the Ponce.

The Americans could also provide signal-jamming aircraft in international airspace tomuddle Libyan government communications with its military units.

A European diplomat said that Britain and France were still waiting to hear what rolethe United States would take in any military action in Libya. One decision that needsto be made, he said, is whether there will be a command and control operations in

Britain or in France.

Beyond that, the diplomat said that officials in Britain, France and the United Stateswere all adamant that Arab League forces take part in the military actions and help payfor the operations, and that it not be led by NATO, to avoid the appearance that theWest was attacking another Muslim country.

The United States has played a complicated role in the debate over militaryinvolvement, initially expressing great reluctance about being drawn into anotherarmed conflict in a Muslim country but subsequently unnerved by the reports ofColonel Qaddafis gains.

But diplomats said the moral imperative of protecting civilians from Colonel Qaddafiand the political imperative of United States not watching from the sidelines while anotorious dictator violently crushed a democratic rebellion had helped wipe awaylingering doubts.


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Characterizing Colonel Qaddafi as a menacing creature lacking a moral compass,Mrs. Clinton said Thursday that the international community had little choice but to act.There is no good choice here. If you dont get him out and if you dont support theopposition and he stays in power, theres no telling what he will do, Mrs. Clinton saidfrom Tunisia on Thursday.

She went on to say Qaddafi would do terrible things to Libya and its neighbors. Itsjust in his nature. There are some creatures that are like that. Her remarks, applaudedby the studio audience where she appeared, amounted to the administrations moststridently personal attacks on the Libyan leader, echoing President Ronald Reagansmad dog of the Middle East.

The resolution sponsored by Lebanon, another Arab state, and strongly backed byFrance, Britain and the United States explicitly mentions the need to protect civiliansin the rebel stronghold Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force. It calls to

establish a ban on all flights in the airspace and an immediate cease-fire.

Mrs. Clinton said Thursday that establishing a no-fly zone over Libya would requirebombing targets in the country to protect planes and pilots. She said other options beingconsidered included the use of drones and arming rebel forces, though not groundtroops, an option that appeared to be ruled out Thursday by the State Departmentshighest-ranking career diplomat, Under Secretary William J. Burns.

The vote was also a seminal moment for the 192-member United Nations and was beingwatched closely as a critical test of its ability to take collective action to prevent

atrocities against civilians. Diplomats said the specter of former conflicts in Bosnia,Rwanda and Darfur, when a divided and sluggish Security Council was seen to havecost lives, had given a sense of moral urgency to Thursdays debate. Yet some criticsalso noted that a no-fly zone authorized in the early 1990s in Bosnia had failed toprevent some of the worst massacres there, including the Srebrenica massacre.

The resolution stresses the necessity of notifying the Arab League of military action andspecifically notes an important role for Arab nations in enforcing the no-fly zone.Diplomats said Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were considering taking a leadingrole, with Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt also considering participating.

The participation of Arab countries in enforcing a no-fly zone has been seen as aprerequisite for the United States, keen not to spur a regional backlash. But at least oneMuslim country, Iran, expressed strong criticism. Mohammad Khazaee, the ambassadorfrom Iran, told reporters Thursday that foreign military intervention in Libya set adangerous precedent in the region.


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Diplomats said debate on the resolution had been contentious, with Russia and Chinareluctant to support military intervention in a sovereign country. the German foreignminister, Guido Westerwelle, also opposed military action and called for toughersanctions.

Security Council members said they were aware that they were in a race against time,with military units loyal to Colonel Qaddafi surrounding the strategically located townof Ajdabiya and massing for a push up the road to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, 100miles away. The Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz, told a Senate panel thatit would probably take upwards of a week to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. ButFrench diplomats insisted Thursday that military action could proceed within hours ofthe resolutions being passed.

Mr. Obama had come under pressure in recent days to take action. Frances foreignminister, Alain Jupp, came to New York to press for a draft resolution, while on

Wednesday the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, sent a letter to the Security Councilsaying that the world had only days, or even hours, to head off a Qaddafi victory.--------------------------Italy to make bases available for Libya no-fly zone-source (Reuters)March 17, 2011(Libya) Italy is ready to make its military bases available to enforce a U.N. SecurityCounci resolution imposing a no-fly zone on Libya, an Italian government source toldReuters on Thursday.

The airbase at Sigonella in Sicily, which provides logistical support for the United States

Sixth Fleet, is one of the closest NATO bases to Libya and could be used in any militaryoperation.

"It's a positive development," an Italian goverrnment source told Reuters minutes afterthe U.N. Security Council voted in favour of the no-fly zone.

Asked whether Italy would offer its bases for the enforcement of the U.N. resolution,the source said: "Yes, we've said we are ready to do that."--------------------------Egypt Said to Arm Libya Rebels (Wall Street Journal)By Charles Levinson and Matthew RosenbergMarch 17, 2011CAIROEgypt's military has begun shipping arms over the border to Libyan rebelswith Washington's knowledge, U.S. and Libyan rebel officials said.

The shipmentsmostly small arms such as assault rifles and ammunitionappear tobe the first confirmed case of an outside government arming the rebel fighters. Those


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fighters have been losing ground for days in the face of a steady westward advance byforces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The Egyptian shipments are the strongest indication to date that some Arab countriesare heeding Western calls to take a lead in efforts to intervene on behalf of pro-

democracy rebels in their fight against Mr. Gadhafi in Libya. Washington and otherWestern countries have long voiced frustration with Arab states' unwillingness to helpresolve crises in their own region, even as they criticized Western powers forattempting to do so.

The shipments also follow an unusually robust diplomatic response from Arab states.There have been rare public calls for foreign military intervention in an Arab country,including a vote by the 23-member Arab League last week urging the U.N. to impose ano-fly zone over Libya.

The vote provided critical political cover to Western powers wary of interveningmilitarily without a broad regional and international mandate. On Thursday evening,the U.N. Security Council voted on a resolution endorsing a no-fly zone in Libya andauthorizing military action in support of the rebels.

Within the council, Lebanon took a lead role drafting and circulating the draft of theresolution, which calls for "all necessary measures" to enforce a ban on flights overLibya. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have taken the lead in offering toparticipate in enforcing a no-fly zone, according to U.N. diplomats.

Libyan rebel officials in Benghazi, meanwhile, have praised Qatar from the first days ofthe uprising, calling the small Gulf state their staunchest ally. Qatar has consistentlypressed behind the scenes for tough and urgent international action behind the scenes,these officials said.

Qatari flags fly prominently in rebel-held Benghazi. After pro-Gadhafi forces retook thetown of Ras Lanuf last week, Libyan state TV broadcast images of food-aid packagesbearing the Qatari flag.

The White House has been reluctant to back calls from leaders in Congress for armingLibya's rebels directly, arguing that the U.S. must first fully assess who the fighters areand what policies they will pursue if they succeeded in toppling Col. Gadhafi. U.S.officials believe the opposition includes some Islamist elements. They fear that Islamistgroups hostile to the U.S. could try to hijack the opposition and take any arms that areprovided.


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The Egyptian weapons transfers began "a few days ago" and are ongoing, according to asenior U.S. official. "There's no formal U.S. policy or acknowledgement that this is goingon," said the senior official. But "this is something we have knowledge of."

Calls to Egypt's foreign ministry and the spokesman for the prime minister seeking

comment went unanswered. There is no means of reaching Egypt's military forcomment. A Egyptian official in Washington said he had no knowledge of weaponshipments.

The U.S. official also noted that the shipments appeared to come "too little, too late" totip the military balance in favor of the rebels, who have faced an onslaught from Libyanforces backed by tanks, artillery and aircraft.

"We know the Egyptian military council is helping us, but they can't be so visible," saidHani Souflakis, a Libyan businessman in Cairo who has been acting as a rebel liaison

with the Egyptian government since the uprising began.

"Weapons are getting through," said Mr. Souflakis, who says he has regular contactswith Egyptian officials in Cairo and the rebel leadership in Libya. "Americans havegiven the green light to the Egyptians to help. The Americans don't want to be involvedin a direct level, but the Egyptians wouldn't do it if they didn't get the green light."

Western officials and rebel leaders in Libya said the U.S. has wanted to avoid beingseen as taking a leadership role in any military action against Mr. Gadhafi after itsinvasions of Iraq and Afganistan fueled anger and mistrust with Washington

throughout the region.

But the U.S. stated clearly it wants Mr. Gadhafi out of power and has signaled it wouldsupport those offering help to the rebels militarily or otherwise.

A spokesman for the rebel government in Benghazi said arms shipments have begunarriving to the rebels but declined to specify where they came from.

"Our military committee is purchasing arms and arming our people. The weapons arecoming, but the nature of the weapons, the amount, where it's coming from, that hasbeen classified," said the spokesman, Mustafa al-Gherryani.

The U.S. official said Egypt wanted to keep the shipments covert. In public, Egypt hassought to maintain a neutral stance toward the rebel uprising in Libya. Egypt abstainedduring the Arab League's vote calling for the U.N. to impose a no-fly zone on Mr.Gadhafi, according to people familiar with the internal Arab League deliberations.

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptian laborers are believed to still be in Libya.


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On the other hand, the Egyptian military's covert support for the rebels suggests that ithas calculated that Mr. Gadhafi is unlikely to remain in power, at least in the easternhalf of the country, and therefore Egypt is eager to begin to build good relations withthe rebels.

Rebel forces in the past 24 hours appeared to make some progress fending off pro-Gadhafi forces' assaults and have rolled out new weapons for the first time since theuprising began last month. Among them are rebel tanks that have taken up positions onthe front lines in recent days. Rebels also launched fighter-jet attacks on governmentpositions on Wednesday for the first time so far.

The tanks and fighter jets are believed to have been among the weapons seized byrebels from defected units of the Libyan army in the eastern half of the country, butthey have received spare parts or trained mechanics from outside the country to help

them deploy them, some rebel officials have speculated.----------------------HRW report details Ivory Coast atrocities (UPI)By Unattributed AuthorMarch 17, 2011 at 9:45 AMABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Troops loyal to Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbocommitted rape and murder, and carried out executions, a Human Rights Watch reportindicated.

The persecution and killings of foreign nationals in the troubled African country were

revealed in accounts taken by HRW monitors, the British newspaper The Guardianreported.

HRW said it documented the beating or burning to death of at least 14 West Africanimmigrants in Ivory Coast. It said its report, released Wednesday, listed violencecommitted by both sides in the country's political confrontation.

Ivory Coast has been in turmoil since a disputed November election between Gbagboand rival Alassane Ouattara, recognized internationally as the winner.

Human Rights Watch described the assaults as an organized pattern of xenophobicattacks, The Guardian reported Wednesday. The report said homes, shops and mosquesof hundreds of West Africans were burned, and many people were driven from theirneighborhoods under death threats by pro-Gbagbo fighters.

"Residents from Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Niger gave detailed accounts of dailyattacks by pro-Gbagbo security forces and armed militias, who beat foreign residents to


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death with bricks, clubs, and sticks, or doused them with gas and burned them alive,"the report said.

The report also criticized gunmen claiming allegiance to Ouattara for summaryexecutions of 11 pro-Gbagbo troops, The Guardian said.

"The time is long overdue for the U.N. Security Council to impose sanctions againstGbagbo and his allies directly implicated in the grave abuses of the post-electionperiod," said Daniel Bekele, HRW's Africa director. "The international communityshould also send a clear message to Ouattara's camp that reprisal killings will placethem next on the list."--------------------------Horrors in Ivory Coast (NYT Editorial)By Unattributed AuthorMarch 17, 2011

In Ivory Coast, an autocrats desperate bid to hang on to power has led to unspeakableatrocities and hundreds of deaths. Hundreds of thousands of people have been drivenfrom their homes. The international community must move quickly to halt this terror.

The United Nations has 9,000 peacekeepers in the country. Another 2,000 areauthorized and are urgently required to protect civilians. There can be no more delay indeploying them and more may be needed. Civilians should be allowed to seek refuge atUnited Nations and French bases (the former colonial power has troops there to supportthe mission). The United Nations should consider ways to jam the state broadcastingsystem, which is inciting violence.

The mayhem was precipitated by President Laurent Gbagbo after he lost his re-electionbid in December. The international community recognized Alassane Ouattara as thelegitimate president. When Mr. Gbagbo refused to step down, the United NationsSecurity Council and others imposed economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Mr. Gbagbo then began what Human Rights Watch described as a campaign oforganized violence that may constitute crimes against humanity, with killings andpolitically motivated rapes. On March 3, the army fired at thousands of womendemonstrating peacefully, killing 7.

While Human Rights Watch blames Mr. Gbagbos forces for the majority of anestimated 400 civilian deaths, pro-Ouattara forces are also faulted. Washington andParis are right to press the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate atrocitycharges.

The Security Council must strictly enforce sanctions against Mr. Gbagbo and hishenchmen. The African Union should keep trying to persuade him to step aside. After


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years of unrest, voters in the Ivory Coast clearly voted for change. Mr. Gbagbo must notbe allowed to thwart their will or plunge the country back into civil war.-------------------------Gbagbo to Address Ivory Coast on AU Call to Cede Power (VOA)By Scott Stearns

March 17, 2011Dakar - Ivory Coast's incumbent president is expected to address the nation, possibly asearly as Thursday, about African Union demands that he hand over power to theinternationally-recognized winner of November's presidential election. The country'spolitical crisis has driven more than 75,000 refugees across the border into Liberia.

United Nations officials and regional diplomats in Abidjan say incumbent presidentLaurent Gbagbo is expected to make a televised response to African Union calls for himto leave office.

The African Union last week endorsed former Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara asIvory Coast's duly-elected president, joining the Economic Community of West AfricanStates, the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States in calling onGbagbo to step down.

National unity government

In keeping with that African Union endorsement, Ouattara is now offering a nationalunity government, a truth and reconciliation commission, and a combined armed forcesin what he says is Gbagbo's "last chance" to end this political crisis peacefully.

Gbagbo has rejected all previous attempts to force him from office. Hamadoun Tour isa spokesman for the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast. He says there is great uncertaintyahead of Gbagbo's response to Ouattara's offer.

"He offered him a way out in I would say a decent manner, Tour said. Is he going toaccept it or not? It is hard to say. So far he has refused all calls for him to step down. SoI don't know how it is going to be solved this time again."

Situation deteriorating

Toure says the humanitarian situation in Ivory Coast is deteriorating as the Gbagbogovernment has refused U.N. requests for safe passage of relief supplies to more than300,000 internally displaced civilians.

"We cannot access the people in need, Tour added. We cannot help them. They arescared. They are in a very bad condition. So the humanitarian situation is very, veryworrisome."


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Refugees

U.N. officials say the political crisis has also driven more than 75,000 Ivorian civiliansacross the border into Liberia, with half that total arriving in just the last two weeks.

Aid officials in Liberia's Toe Town say they are struggling to keep up. Augustine Nugbais the local program coordinator for the Catholic charity Caritas.

"As soon as the place is given and we receive the government's okay, we will start toconstruct a camp and to remove everyone from here," said Nugba.

Food shortages, overcrowding, and inadequate sanitation have brought cases ofdiarrhea and malaria for refugees, including Victorine Tohogninon.

Tohogninon says that since the refugees came to Liberia, the children and the elderly

are getting sick.

She says the refugees are getting water and food, but the bulgur wheat being providedis not what they are accustomed to eating, so many people have diarrhea.

It is a long and poorly defended border along the Cestos River. So far, fighting inIvorian border towns between rebels who back Ouattara and government troops whoare still loyal to Gbagbo has not spilled into Liberia, though human rights groups sayboth sides are recruiting Liberian fighters.

If the political crisis is not resolved soon, refugee Charles-Camille Kpehia says there willbe no one left in Ivory Coast to govern.

He says whoever the people want, that's the person who should lead the country. Noone can say, 'I will get rid of everyone.' Is it the goats, chickens and cattle that such aperson will lead?-------------------Somali Capital of Mogadishu Plans Presidential Elections by End of August

(Bloomberg)By Hamsa OmarMar 17, 2011 11:29 AM ETSomalias capital, Mogadishu, will hold a presidential election before the end of August,said Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan, the speaker of parliament.

There will be a committee that organizes the presidential elections including theAfrican Union, the six-nation Intergovernmental Authority on Development and theUnited Nations, Adan said in a statement read by Awad Ahmed Ashara, a spokesmanfor parliament, in the city today.


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The Western-backed Transitional Federal Government of Somalias mandate isscheduled to expire in August. Last month, Somali lawmakers announced they wouldextend parliaments tenure for three more years, even after the government failed toenact a new constitution or organize elections. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed

has called for a review of the extension, while Adan has said lawmakers wont reversethe decision.

Most of southern and central Somalia has been seized by the Islamist al-Shabaab militiasince it began a campaign against the government in 2007, while President SheikhSharifs administration controls only parts of Mogadishu, backed by African Unionpeacekeepers. The U.S. accuses al-Shabaab of having links to al-Qaeda.

The UN has said it regrets the decision by parliament to extend its mandate and wantsthe TFG replaced by a new body. Somalia hasnt had a functioning central

administration since the ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.----------------------------Up to 50 Somali pirates seize Indonesian ship (AFP)By Unattributed AuthorMarch 17, 2011BRUSSELS An unusually large group of 30 to 50 Somali pirates seized an Indonesianvessel and used it in a failed bid to hijack a second ship on Thursday, the EU navalmission said.

The pirates hijacked the bulk carrier Sinar Kudus about 320 nautical miles northeast of

the island of Socotra on Wednesday morning, the EU anti-piracy mission said. It has 20Indonesian sailors on board.

"Details of the attack are not known at this time but initial reports from the crew statedthat 30 to 50 pirates had boarded and taken control of the vessel," the EU Navfor forcesaid in a statement.

The Indonesian flagged and owned ship was on its way to Suez, Egypt, from Singaporewhen it was attacked.

The Indonesia ship was then used on Thursday to attack the Liberian-flagged bulkcarrier Emperor but the pirates were repelled by an armed security crew after "anexchange of fire," Navfor spokesman Paddy O'Kennedy told AFP.

The Emperor was reported safe.


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News of the hijacking came at the same time that Tunisia's transport ministryannounced Somali pirates had released a chemical tanker hijacked in November afterpayment of a ransom of $2 million.

The Hannibal II, with a mostly Tunisian crew of 31, is currently on its way to Djibouti in

the Red Sea, the ministry said.

Tunisia's official TAP news agency, which quoted the ministry, did not say who paidthe ransom, or how.------------------------------North, South Sudan Agreed to Restart Talks After Suspension, Mbeki Says(Bloomberg)By Maram MazenMar 17, 2011 11:40 AM ETThe presidents of north and south Sudan agreed to resume negotiations on future

relations, five days after Southern Sudans ruling party said it was suspending the talks,the African Union said.

It was agreed with the presidents that all of the outstanding negotiations will nowproceed, former South African President Thabo Mbeki, the head of the African UnionsHigh Level Panel on Sudan, told reporters today in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

Mbeki spoke after a meeting between Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir and SalvaKiir, the president of oil-rich Southern Sudan, which is due to secede from Sudan andbecome independent July 9.

The talks are aimed at reaching agreement on issues such as citizenship, borderdemarcation, the responsibility for Sudans $38 billion of foreign debt and oil-revenuesharing. Under a 2005 peace agreement that ended a two-decade civil war, the northand the south currently share earnings from oil production in the south on a 50-50 basis.

At independence, Southern Sudan will assume control of about three-quarters ofSudans current oil production of 490,000 barrels a day, pumped mainly by ChinaNational Petroleum Corp., Malaysias Petroliam Nasional Bhd. and Indias Oil &Natural Gas Corp. Sudan had 5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of January 2010,according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Rebel AttackThe SPLM suspended the negotiations on March 12 following an attack by a rebelmilitia in Upper Nile state. It accused the Sudanese government of funding, trainingand arming militias in the south to destabilize the region and overthrow its governmentbefore July.


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Al-Bashirs government denied the accusations, saying that clashes in Southern Sudanare a result of internal divisions and that the regions government has the responsibilityto defuse these tensions.

Fighting in Southern Sudan has intensified with at least 16 incidents of violence since

almost 99 percent of Southern Sudanese voters chose in a Jan. 9 referendum to becomean independent nation, Mohamed Chande Othman, the United Nations Human RightsCouncil independent expert on Sudan, said March 14 in an e-mailed statement.

In Jonglei state alone, Othman said, clashes between Southern Sudans army andrenegade General George Athors militia over the past two months killed more than 200people and displaced as many as 20,000.---------------------------UN News Service Africa BriefsFull Articles on UN Website

Security Council authorizes all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya

17 March The Security Council today effectively authorized the use of force in Libyato protect civilians from attack, specifically in the eastern city of Benghazi, whichColonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi has reportedly said he will storm tonight to end a revoltagainst his regime.

Human rights key to successful elections, says UN official in West Africa

17 March Promoting and upholding human rights before, during and after anelectoral process is critical to whether or not that election is ultimately a success, a

senior United Nations human rights official said today.

Pro-Gbagbo forces shell market in Cte dIvoire, killing at least 25 UN17 March The United Nations peacekeeping operation in Cte dIvoire expressedoutrage today after armed forces allied to the defeated president Laurent Gbagboshelled a market in a neighbourhood of the commercial capital, Abidjan, killing 25 to 30people and wounding dozens more.

Protester killed in Darfur, UN-African Union mission reports17 March At least one person has died and up to 10 others were injured afterprotesters clashed with police in Darfur, the United Nations-African Union

peacekeeping mission to the Sudanese region reported today.

Somalia: Security Council exempts humanitarian activities from sanctions provisions17 March The Security Council today voted to exempt the work of humanitarianagencies operating in Somalia from a resolution that obliges States to impose financialsanctions on groups and individuals who obstruct efforts to restore peace and stabilityin the Horn of Africa country.

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