Benghazi, March 16: Anti-aircraft and heavy artillery fire has been heard in Libya’s eastern city of Benghazi as forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi continue the deadly assault on opposition forces.
Revolutionaries’ anti-aircraft batteries opened fire at around 11:00 pm local time (2100 GMT), but no planes have been seen over the opposition-held city, AFP reported.
The Libyan army had earlier announced that an offensive against the revolutionary forces in Benghazi was imminent.
On Tuesday, Gaddafi forces moved further to the east to retake the cities and towns that fell out of the government’s control in the early days of the popular revolution.
“The armed forces are arriving to ensure your security, undo the injustice done to you, protect you, restore calm and bring life back to normal,” a government statement addressing eastern residents said on Tuesday.
“This is a humanitarian operation being undertaken in your interests, and is not aimed at taking revenge against anyone,” it added.
Gaddafi loyalists launched an all-out attack on the eastern city of Ajdabiya on Tuesday. Tanks shelled homes and warplanes and artillery struck roads to prevent people from fleeing to the neighboring city of Benghazi.
Gaddafi seems intent on hanging on to power as long as possible, the members of the international community, especially the Western powers, have so far failed to take any concrete steps to halt the violence, and thus it seems the carnage will continue in the killing fields of Libya.
The latest reports from Libya indicate that thousands may have been killed or injured in the country as the government intensifies its violent assault on the opposition.
——–Agencies