Gadhafi’s Circle Debates Regime’s End

 

That’s what his inner circle is debating as his government invited rebels and tribal leaders to negotiate a political solution – and Western nations took steps to prepare for a possible military intervention.

 

The rebel-led governing council, based in Benghazi, in eastern Libya, rejected the invitation.

 

Margaret Coker reporting for The Wall Street Journal from Libya:

 

Major battles between forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi and rebel in key cities along Libya’s coast have caused oil prices to breach $106/barrel.

 

Forces loyal to Col. Gadhafi launched airstrikes to check the opposition’s advance west toward his hometown of Sirte.

 

President Barack Obama said the US was discussing military options with allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Britain and France, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, began drafting a UN resolution supporting a no-fly zone over Libya.

 

While British diplomat said the draft would be ready in the event of a serious attack on civilians by Libyan air power.

Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa asserts that its military has acted within the law and hasn’t been indiscriminately shooting at civilians.

 

Mr. Koussa welcomed international fact-finding missions to investigate these allegations.

 

Rebel forces have appeared to be consolidating their positions and assuming a more defensive posture in the oil refinery city of Ras Lanuf.

 

Libyan warplanes launched at least three airstrikes near checkpoints and rebel positions on the outskirts of Ras Lanuf, according to witnesses, but the bombs appeared to have fallen harmlessly in the nearby desert.

 

In Tripoli,

 

officials lobbied for a plan that calls on Col. Gadhafi to cede power to a council of technocrats who could shepherd a transition toward democratic reforms and a government based on modern institutions, according to a person familiar with the situation.

 

Col. Gadhafi would be given an honorary title under the plan, but be removed from day-to-day decision-making, according to this person.

 

US officials said Western allies of the U.S. are trying to step up pressure on aides close to Col. Gadhafi to force him from power.

 

European diplomats have also tried to reach out to members of his inner circle to urge them to pressure the colonel to leave office, U.S. officials said.

 

But for now, the countrie’s worse affected, are the hordes of civilians forced out of their homes and attacked on the streets.

 

UN aid officials launched a US$160 million appeal to international donors on Monday for humanitarian assistance for up to one million people.

 

“This appeal is based on planning scenario projecting up to 400,000 people leaving Libya—including the 200,000 who have left to date—and another 600,000 people inside Libya expected to need humanitarian aid to varying degrees,” said Valerie Amos, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator.

 

More in this report from The Wall Street Journal.