France has become the first country to recognise the Libyan rebel leadership, the National Libyan Council (NLC), as the country's legitimate government.

It comes as Nato is set to discuss military options in the Libyan conflict including a possible no-fly zone
from - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12699183

This will allow France (and other countries) to respond to aid / arms requests without violating "sovereignty" (as it is the official government requesting such assistance).

Gaddafi loyalists mount onslaught

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12708687

Being a regular visitor to the area i would say only a fool would write off Gadaffi just yet.

In The Know wrote:
France has become the first country to recognise the Libyan rebel leadership, the National Libyan Council (NLC), as the country's legitimate government.

From BBC News -

The Arab League is due to hold an emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday to discuss supporting the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya.

In comments made ahead of the meeting, the League's Secretary General, Amr Mussa, backed the creation of a no-fly zone and said he wanted the pan-Arab organisation to play a role in implementing it.

"The United Nations, the Arab League, the African Union, the Europeans - everyone should participate," Mr Mussa told German weekly Der Spiegel.

===

With all assets now frozen, and no oil sales being made, Gaddafi is fooling himself that he can survive.

Arab League backs no-fly zone for Libya.

==

This is what the Americans and the British have been waiting for - someone to "take the lead" so any action by them could not be construed as colonial.

Libya rebels 'forced from Brega'

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12726032

Those of us who know the area well hold a very different view

Hillary Clinton meeting the "rebel" Government leaders in Paris today !

Enough firepower to dismiss the Gaddafi-terror raids on its way ?

Now that the Arab League has called for a no-fly zone, and the officially recognised new Government has requested aid, the Yankers are in the clear - just as I said !

Solihull Exile wrote:
Libya rebels 'forced from Brega'

Brega retaken !

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12731079

In The Know wrote:
Solihull Exile wrote:
Libya rebels 'forced from Brega'

Brega retaken !

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12731079

'Rebel forces in Libya say they have retaken the eastern oil town of Brega,'

I'd wait for confirmation of that.My sources in Bengazi are worried the rebellion will be crushed.
The trouble is there is a complete lack of credible news,all sorts of stories will do the rounds as a result,mostly because the meejah want sensational headlines.
Also the situation is very complex by western standards,clans can change sides without a word of warning,think of it as a mini Afghan situation and you'll be closer.
I travel out there a lot,my father's contacts out there go back to the 1940s,I was at college with a group of Libyans back in the 80s.
Let the situation unfold,and watch the contradictions in the meejah unfold with it,it's not over till the bald lady sings

She will meet members of Libya's opposition fighting to topple Muammar Gaddafi, though no details were given about how those arrangements would be made.

The US also announced that it was suspending relations with the Libyan embassy in Washington, as President Barack Obama faced criticism at home for not taking a stronger leadership role in tackling Libya.

Several of the president's potential Republican rivals for the 2012 election have joined calls for the imposition of a no-fly zone to control Col Gaddafi's air power.

Newt Gingrich, a former House Speaker, said the US should impose one immediately, without waiting for the UN or Nato. Tim Pawlenty, formerly governor of Minnesota, told reporters that Mr Obama had failed to offer a timely condemnation of a "sociopathic killer" mowing down his own people.

Rick Santorum urged air strikes: "Ronald Reagan bombed Libya. If you want to be Reaganesque, it seems the path is pretty clear here."
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/afric...n-rebel-leaders.html
===

If the Yanks have suspended diplomatic relations with Gaddafi, it can only be a matter of time befoire everyone else recognises the new "rebel" Government.

'Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces are slowly pushing towards the main rebel-held towns in Libya, reports say.

Ajdabiya, the last major town before the rebel base in Benghazi, came under heavy aerial attack. In the west, ground forces and tanks have begun shelling the town of Zuwara.

Rebels say they have retaken Brega, but the government has denied the claim.

Earlier, the UN Security Council met to discuss the imposition of a no-fly zone, but there was no consensus.

The BBC's Barbara Plett says there were divisions about authorising such a zone, with France calling it a game-changer, but countries such as Russia expressed caution, saying serious questions remained.'

I told you ITK that it was more complex than a few silly meejah headlines.The situation will move backwards and forward,and our meejah will go with the best headlines.
As for being 'All over for Gaddafi' you rather jumped the gun there,leaving us all wondering,just how much you really know about this situation ? You certainly do not appear to have any 'local' sources of knowledge

Gaddafi - with an army, mercenaries and an air force - is doing rather badly considering he is defending against very lightly-armed and spontaneous resistance.

He's just desperately trying to hang on.

The bombers will be there within days to aid the new Government and liberate the people.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12756874

As usualIn the knowitall has got it completely wrong again.
Try shutting up until you at least have knowledge of the situation.
Fed up of listening to ur crap day after day!

Another "new" poster !

Which regular is this?

Billy Bragg wrote:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12756874

As usualIn the knowitall has got it completely wrong again.

U.S. hints at Libya air strikes as Gadhafi pounds rebels

edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/17/...ar/index.html?hpt=C2

ITK right again !

Don't count on it.

In The Know wrote:
Billy Bragg wrote:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12756874

As usualIn the knowitall has got it completely wrong again.

U.S. hints at Libya air strikes as Gadhafi pounds rebels

edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/03/17/...ar/index.html?hpt=C2

ITK right again !

Just rumors ITK,as usual your local knowledge is as Solihull Exile says non existent.

Keep on spouting rubbish,and myself and JK will call you to task over it!

Very good analysis of Gaddifi's chances here -

Libya crisis: no 'happy ending' for Colonel Gaddafi

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12720643

Billy Bragg wrote:
Just rumors ITK,as usual your local knowledge is as Solihull Exile says non existent.

Keep on spouting rubbish,and myself and JK will call you to task over it!

NOT rumours at all - facts !

"Discussions are under way on the possible direct involvement of Arab nations in any international military action against Gaddafi, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

U.S. officials said on Thursday that Washington wanted the United Nations to authorise not just a no-fly zone to aid Libyan rebels but also air strikes against Libyan tanks and heavy artillery".
- from uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/uk-lib...dUKLDE71Q0MP20110317

JK2006 wrote:
Don't count on it.

The vote at the UN - on bombing Libya - is at 22.00 tonight !

In The Know wrote:
Very good analysis of Gaddifi's chances here -

Libya crisis: no 'happy ending' for Colonel Gaddafi

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12720643

For once the BBC makes some sense.Of course he will survive in some sense,as he did for all those years when he had sanctions on him before.No doubt a mess caused by the international community,and no doubt the real ones to suffer as in Iraq are the ordinary 'Joes',not those at the top.

Boils down to the fact as SE said in the beginning that the alternative would be even worse than the present.Iraq being a shining example.America beware,because if you break it,you own it,as a very famous yank put it about Iraq.