Explosions Rock Tripoli in Third Night of Attack

Tripoli, Libya

Loud explosions have rocked the Libyan capital Tripoli in the third night of air and missile strike by coalition forces enforcing the United Nation's no-fly zone in the country.

 Two large explosions ten minutes apart believed to be coming from two naval bases just outside the capital were heard shortly after 9pm, as gunfire and anti-aircraft fire were detonated in the city near Col Muammar Gaddafi's compound on Monday night.

 The coalition forces air strike launched on Saturday comes after the adoption of a resolution by the UN Security Council on Thursday that declared a no-fly zone on Libyan airspace. The resolution called for member states to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threats of attack.

Fighting between forces loyal to Col Gaddafi and rebels continued overnight in the rebel-controlled eastern city of Benghazi even after the government declared a cease fire on Sunday evening. At least 11 people were killed and scores wounded by the government troops in Misrata, west of Benghazi during an opposition protest. Government forces are still attacking rebels in the east and trying to hold on territories they have already taken.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told a news conference that the Monday’s air and missile strikes by the coalition forces had caused numerous civilian casualties. He also claimed that the government was in control of Misrata, something disputed by the opposition.

Head of US military Africa command General Carter Ham said that seven other western nations were participating in the mission alongside the US. The other nations including Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain and Belgium were participating in the mission to protect Libyan civilians targeted by attacks from forces allied to Col Gaddafi.

 General Ham speaking from his headquarters in Germany said focus of the mission, has now shifted to extending the no-fly zone from eastern part of the country to cover the capital. He also said that the coalition forces had no mandate to provide direct support to Libyan rebels

 US president Barack Obama has said that while it is US policy that Gaddafi has to go, the western military operation in Libya was about protecting civilians. Obama in his address to journalists during a visit to Chile said that the military action is in support of an international mandate from the UN Security Council that specifically focused on the humanitarian threat posed by Gaddafi to his people, who was not only carrying out murders of civilians, but he threatened more.

He said that the US will soon give up control of the Western military operation within a matter of days to ensure the burden of this operation was shared.

The UN Security Council has rejected a Libyan request for an emergency meeting to have the “military aggression” by coalition forces stopped. The council has instead planned for a briefing on the coalition air campaign on Thursday to the UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has already opened investigations into the Libyan leader, some of his sons and allies for crimes against humanity.

The United Arab Emirates said on Monday that it will limit its involvement in Libya to humanitarian assistance. The EU also said it would send resources to protect a humanitarian mission in the country upon request from the United Nations.

Over300, 000 people mainly immigrant workers have fled the country to Tunisia and Egypt since the last month when the uprising which was started as peaceful protest by civilians seeking Gaddafi to end his 41-year rule began.

Juba, South Sudan

Deadly Clashes in South Leaves Scores Dead

Heavy armed fighting between South Sudan army and rebels in three states in the past week has left at least 70 people dead, army officials have said.

Spokesman for South Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) army Philip Aguer said that 34 SPLA soldiers and 36 rebels died in the two-day clashes that broke out on Thursday morning in Unity state’s Mayom county, before continuing to Jonglei state.

Aguer said the fighting broke out after talks aimed at persuading the rebels to join the southern army broke down. He said fighting was very heavy but the rebels who split into two groups, one going towards the border with the north and another into a swamp area in the region are now being pursued.

In Upper Nile state, clashes between the army and a separate rebel group broke down when the army launched a crackdown on the rebels, who are responsible for a bloody raid in Malakal town the previous week left 25 rebels and four SPLA soldiers dead.

The Rebel leader identified as General George Athor is believed to have escaped across the border to the north wounded.

Gen Athor signed a ceasefire just before the January referendum but resumed fighting in February where many have been killed ever since. The former SPLA general retreated into rebellion following his loss in last April’s election where he independently vied as governor of Jonglei state.

Leaders of north and south have agreed to resume talks on South’s independence after the southern government said it was suspending talks, after the south accused the northern military intelligence of arming southern militias in order to topple the south’s government.

The south has accused the Khartoum government of arming Arab tribes along the north-south border in a policy of attempted genocide. Officials in the south have released documents they purport to detail the northern arms shipments to southern militias.

The north has denied the claims of arming the rebels in the south, refusing the documents as mere forgeries.

South Sudan is due to be declared legitimately independent in July after 99 percent of south’s residents voted in favour of secession in the January 9 referendum. The referendum was part of the 2005 Comprehensive Political Agreement that ended decades of north-south armed conflict.

Talks on outstanding issues on possible border demarcation, sharing of national resources and debts are yet to be finalised in efforts to realise Africa’s newest state.