Muammar Gaddafi's troops closed on the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on Thursday, bombing its outskirts as international support grew for air strikes to halt their advance and protect civilians. Gaddafi told Benghazi residents in a radio address they had nothing to fear if they lay down their weapons.
-- Fighting rages along road to Benghazi
-- US official says pro-Gaddafi forces made big strides
"We are coming tonight... There won't be any mercy." His Defence Ministry warned of swift retaliation if the United Nations Security Council, meeting in emergency session on Thursday evening, triggered military action proposed by Arab states and Western powers.
"Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger and civilian and military (facilities) will become targets of Libya's counter-attack," the ministry said in a statement. A draft UN Security Council resolution backed by France, Britain and Lebanon would authorise a no-fly zone and 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians under threat. The wording appeared to hold open the possibility of air strikes in defence of Benghazi.
The draft obtained by Reuters ruled out any "occupation force"; a nod both to Arab sensitivities and to Western capitals such as London and Washington already stretched by involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq. "We are very concerned about the situation in Libya and the violence that is being perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime against its people," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
US Undersecretary of State William Burns said Gaddafi's forces had made "significant strides on the ground" and were now about 160 km (100 miles) from Benghazi. The Libyan army, which has been attacking rebel-held cities in the east and west of the country, said it would halt operations on Sunday to give rebels a chance to surrender, Al Arabiya television reported. Libyan state television said government troops had taken Zueitina, an oil port on the coastal highway 130 km (80 miles) from Benghazi, but the rebels said they had surrounded the pro-Gaddafi units on the approaches to the town.