This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011 [1].
Shortly after the UN Security Council-imposed no-fly zone over Libya was to take effect, Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi's government said it would halt its hostilities in the country.
In a vote of 10 in favor and five abstentions, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 1973 [2], “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from pro-Gaddafi forces and to find a peaceful solution to the fighting that began when government forces began attacking anti-regime protesters.
[3]A wide view of the Security Council as 5 Members—China, Brazil, Germany, India and the Russian Federation—indicate their abstentions on resolution 1973 (2011) which authorizes the use of military force, including a no-fly zone, in Libya. Photo from the UN.
@bungdan: [4]
Mussa Kusa, top Qaddafi aide declares immediate ceasefire. No threats, no bluster. They were shelling misrata this morning though #libya
@deepak_minhas: [5]#libya's FM Koussa said bc his country was a member of the United Nations it is “obliged to accept to #UN Security Council's resolutions”.
@fmrw89: [6]Moussa Koussa has an interestingly selective way of interpreting the UN Charter. Oh well, I suppose that puts him in good company. #libya
I should also point out:
@kasrawiNYC: [7]#Libya's Foreign Minister has the greatest name of any Arab politician: Moussa Koussa (Moussa the Squash)
‘It's a lie’
Tweeps met the call for ceasefire with sustained boos and pleas to ignore it:
@Tripolitanian: [8]Koussa's comments don't change anything, #Gaddafi continues to bomb civilians, we want this madman to go! | #Libya #Feb17
@freedom4libya: [9]There is no ceasefire it's a trick. #Gadhafi is attacking Misrata & Zintan in the west and Adjabia in the east. NATO?? What are you waiting4
@freedom4libya: [10]
Hello world leaders DO NoT FALL FOR #GADHAFI CEASEFIRE IT'S A LIE. #libya please rtweet
@Dima_Khatib: [11]Gaddafi's games: first he says resolution not worth paper it is written on, then he says he will respect it –> cease fire, then he .. fires
@AlArabiya_Eng: [12]The commander of protesters said that the government announcement of an immediate ceasefire is “not important” saying Gaddafi is “bluffing”
@Imadou: [13]The ceasefire is the result of last night's decision and Gaddafi watching old tapes of Saddam's final months…
@freedom4libya: [14]#Gadhafi announcing ceasefire. His deathsquads everywhere not covered by ceasefire. #LibyanTNC please be aware of his games. #Libya united.
@hamzamu: [15]Gaddafi is moving many dead bodies to suspected targets UN may attack in order to claim them as victims of UN #libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: [16]To those asking about Gaddafi's “cease fire”, it's a pathetic ploy. Attacks on Misurata continue and shooting protesters continues. #Libya
@evanchill: [17]Regime ceasefire calculation? Continued assault = assured destruction. Cease fire = survival + control of capital and major oil facilities.
@richardengelnbc: [18]#libya.. Question is will libya really stop offensive? Reports of ongong assault in misrata. Announcing a ceasefire and doing it v different
@freelibyanyouth: [19]Misratah still being attacked after Koussa announces ceasefire! There has to be an implementation of the resolution! #libya
Attacks around the country
Here is some news from the ground. For the past few days, Gaddafi forces have been attacking Misurata [20], going so far as to claim the city was under government control. However, those attacks continue [21] on Friday, March 18 on Libya's third-largest city:
@Dima_Khatib: [22]Gaddafi supposedly announced a cease fire but he is now breaking his own cease fire in Misurata #libya #feb17
@ShababLibya: [23]Misrata facing heavy shelling, gun fire in residential areas as well as sniper fire. Arabiya reports 4 dead 70 wounded #Libya #Feb17
@bilalr: [24]Misurata resident tells #AlJazeera that city been assault by some 25 tanks – casualties rising. More on Libya Live Blog http://aje.me/fSUeNg
@libi4ever: [25]1 martyr in Misrata right now, the city still under heavy bombing #libya
@libi4ever: [26]Misrata under heavy fire, qadfi wants to destroy it be4 he leaves #libya
@AhmedW: [27]Misrata stay strong!! احمد وريث #Libya #Feb17
@Tripolinero: [28]
Gunfire and heavy artillery clashes b/w forces and rebels at South of #Ajdabiya-so much 4 the cease fire #Gaddafi you habitual liar! #Libya
Warning: Graphic Content. Here is a video, uploaded by marco1702 [29] last week, showing fighting in Misurata.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIlI5wMZsjc [30]
Tweeps also report fighting in other parts of the country.
@ShababLibya: [31]Gaddafi claims a ceasefire to buy him more time, heavy clashes currently taking place from Zintan to Ajdabia, snipers in Misrata #Libya
@freedom4libya: [32]City of #Zintan is under attack.
Continued fighting leads a few to wonder the effectiveness of a no-fly zone:
@Antiwarcom: [33]Despite alleged cease-fire, Misrata attacks continue, NFZ has no effect on tanks, guns http://bit.ly/eX9who #
Rumors fly of explosions in Tripoli:
@feb17voices: [34]AJE correspondent reports hearing 3 large explosions in past 1/2 hour in #Tripoli unlike anything she's heard since being in #Libya. #Feb17
@ShababLibya: [35]Very large explosions heard and continuing west of Tripoli #Libya #Feb17 #gaddaficrimes
@Thanku4theAnger: [36]Seems bombing of Gaddafi forces in #Tripoli has commenced by NFZ forces. 3 large explosions heard today unlike anything before in past hour
Debating the No-Fly Zone
Let's step back a minute a cover some of the debate on the no-fly zone. Some say it is too little too late.
@LibyaNewMedia: [37]Only see reports of new meetings, new discussions while nobody listens to the Libyan people. Kinda foresaw this yesterday. No trust & hope.
@Vettcrazz: [38]Those people over in #libya will be a mass exodus because of no food or water,same with yemen and iran.NFZ COMPLETE HOAX.#LIBYA IS HUNGRY
@Lqkas: [39]#UNSC finally reached resolution on #Libya. But now seems much bloodshed could hav been avoided if reached earlier. #Gaddafi #ceasefire #NFZ
@LailaLalami: [40]I still don't know how I feel about the #NFZ and the upcoming strikes in #Libya. These things haven't worked out too well in the past…
To counter the perception that a no-fly zone won't change military realities on the ground, reports have surfaced that anti-Gaddafi forces are now publicly receiving weapons from abroad.
@shadihamid: [41]
RT @evanchill: US & Libyan rebel officials say Egypt has begun shipping small arms to the rebels: http://ow.ly/4gTa9
I couldn't find much on what the opposition forces feel about the UN's actions, but I did come across this:
@libi4ever: [42]#Libya won't go back to the past, we are going to the future without Qadfi and his family
@libi4ever: [43]
I can't imagine Qadfis end, will he escape, will he kill himself, will revolutionaries catch him, I'm dying to know #libya