After France announcing imminent strikes on Libya
Libya declared a ceasefire in the country to protect civilians and comply with a United Nations resolution passed overnight, Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa said on Friday.
"We decided on an immediate ceasefire and on an immediate stop to all military operations," he told reporters.
"(Libya) takes great interest in protecting civilians," he said, adding that the country would also protect all foreigners and foreign assets in Libya.
France
Military action against Libya will come within "hours" and France will participate in the strikes, government spokesman Francois Baroin said Friday, after the United Nations Security Council authorized action.
"The French, who led the calls (for action), will of course be consistent with military intervention," Baroin told French radio RTL. Asked to specify what that meant, he said "they will participate" in operations.
In the first officially announced Arab role, Qatar said it will contribute to international efforts to protect Libyan civilians and urged quick action to impose a no-fly zone on the North African country, state news agency QNA reported on Friday.
Italy, a traditional Gaddafi ally, said it has opened its military bases for the planned military move, and Poland announced that it will offer logistical support but will play no military role.
Norway will also join the international military action in Libya, a Norwegian daily quoted the defense minister as saying on its website on Friday.
"We will contribute to the operation," Grete Faremo told the daily Verdens Gang. "But it is too early to say exactly in what way. Sending air capabilities would be natural."
Faremo said that sending fighter aircraft was one possibility, as well as humanitarian operations requiring air transport.
The United Nations late on Thursday authorized military strikes to protect Libyan civilians and curb Gaddafi’s forces, hours after the Libyan leader threatened to storm the rebel bastion of Benghazi overnight.
Seif al-Islam Gaddafi on Friday said his family was "not afraid" after the United Nations approved air strikes against forces loyal to his father’s regime.
"We are in our country and with our people. And we are not afraid," Seif al-Islam told ABC News Nightline from the Libyan capital Tripoli.
"We will not be afraid. Come on! We will not be afraid. I mean, you are not helping to the people if you are going to bomb Libya, to kill Libyans. You destroy our country. Nobody is happy with that."
The United Nations resolution came hours after Gaddafi threatened to storm the opposition bastion of Benghazi overnight, showing "no mercy, no pity".
"We will come. House by house, room by room," Gaddafi said in a radio address to the eastern city late on Thursday.
The U.N. Security Council, meeting in emergency session, passed a resolution endorsing a no-fly zone to halt government troops now around 100 km (60 miles) from Benghazi. It also authorized "all necessary measures" — code for military action — to protect civilians against Gaddafi’s forces.
But time was clearly running short for the city that has been the heart of Libya’s month-old revolution.
The threat to civilians was the basis of the Security Council action, which passed by a vote of 10-0, with five abstentions, including Russia and China. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said his country abstained because the vote may lead to large-scale military intervention.
Celebrations in Benghazi
Overjoyed Libyans poured into the streets of Benghazi on Thursday night to celebrate after the UN vote.
As news of the Security Council vote broke, the air in the opposition stronghold crackled with gunfire and the noise of bursts from anti-aircraft weapons reverberated off buildings along the seafront.
In the central square, protesters fell into each others’ arms, embracing and some crying with delight at the news that the world body had approved the no-fly zone that opposition fighters have pleaded for in recent weeks.
Red tracer bullets arced across the sky as preachers across Benghazi used mosque loudspeakers to chant "God is greatest, God is greatest."
Cars quickly took to the roads as the decision was announced at around midnight local time, with drivers honking their horns and passengers waving the rebels’ black-red-green flag in celebration.
The crowd of a few hundred in Benghazi’s central square swelled in minutes to several thousand as people converged from across the city to celebrate with their neighbors.
Many of those flooding into the square carried French flags and expressed gratitude for Paris’s strong support for a no-fly zone and its decision to recognize the rebel government.
Marij Bourahim, an oil company employee, was already in the square when news of the UN vote broke.
"I was right here when it happened," he said. "I’m more than happy, it’s probably the best day in my life… Now that we have this help we can fight until the last man and even to the last woman."
As he spoke, he hugged his friend Hussein Madani, a 48-year-old engineer, who also welcomed the UN decision.
"We needed the no-fly zone, but more than that we need to bomb Tripoli, Sirte and Sabha because that’s where most of the Libyan army infrastructure is," he said, referring to towns under Kadhafi’s control.
The mood in the square was festive, with many protesters accompanied by their children. A group even formed a conga line, and danced around in a circle.
Gaddafi’s threats
The elation came after an evening in which Gaddafi threatened to send troops to "chase the traitors from Benghazi" within hours.
But by 3:00 am local time (0100 GMT) there was no sign of the promised assault, and despite several loud explosions followed by anti-aircraft fire, no aircraft were spotted over the city.
In the square, Saad, who did not give his last name, said people were no longer afraid of Gaddafi’s forces, which have moved swiftly in recent days to retake rebel territory in eastern Libya.
"I’m not scared, we’ve been scared for 42 years, it’s more than enough," he said, standing next to his sons, 19-year-old Faraj and 12-year-old Yussef.
"Now that you are going to help us, I can send my 12-year-old son and he can fight Gaddafi!"
Even before the UN Security Council decision was announced, the mood in Benghazi was defiant, with people mocking Gaddafi’s threats to overrun the city.
"He is drowning, he cannot do anything to these people around here," said Monem Zelitny, 55.
"These people are determined to fight to the last drop of blood… They don’t have a choice," he said. "Nobody’s afraid. You live only once and you die only once, either you live free or die… We do not surrender."