PJ: Libya has invited Turkey, Malta and China to monitor the cease fire according this this article in Hurriyet: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=libya-says-ceasefire-holds-invites-foreign-observers-2011-03-18
SPIEGEL
Cat-and-Mouse Game
West Seeks a Response to Libya's Ceasefire
Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa on Friday announced an immediate cessation of all military operations against rebels in the country. The ceasefire comes in the wake of a United Nations resolution authorizing the establishment of a no-fly zone in the country.
The response from Libya came quickly. With several Western nations preparing to use military force in accordance with a United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Thursday in New York, Libya on Friday announced an abrupt cessation of hostilities.
"We decided on an immediate ceasefire and an immediate stop to all military operations," Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa told reporters on Friday in Tripoli. He also said that all foreigners and foreign assets in the country would be protected.
It is a move which is reminiscent of the kind of cat-and-mouse game engaged in for years by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein prior to the US invasion in 2003. And it remains to be seen exactly how the West will react.
In an appearance on BBC television immediately following Koussa's statement, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Gadhafi will be judged by "actions not words."
"What is absolutely clear is the UN Security Council resolution said he must stop what he is doing, brutalizing his people," Cameron said. "If not, all necessary measures can follow to make him stop. That is what we agreed last night, that is what we are preparing for and we'll judge him by what he does."
Emergency Summit
Indeed, despite Gadhafi's pledge to halt violence against anti-government rebels in north-eastern Libya, preparations to implement the no-fly zone authorized by the Council resolution have continued. France has called an emergency summit on Libya for Saturday in Paris. In addition to Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Arab League leader Amr Moussa, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Juis Rodriguez Zapatero and EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton have all confirmed that they will attend.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country abstained from the resolution vote in its role as a holder of a non-permanent Security Council seat, has also announced her intention to attend. Berlin is discussing with NATO the possibility of taking over AWACS reconnaissance duties in Afghanistan to free-up American surveillance planes for operations in Libya.
In addition to the summit, several countries have taken steps to do their part in implementing the UN resolution, which also authorized the use of "all necessary measures" to protect Libyan civilians from pro-Gadhafi forces in the country.
* Great Britain has two frigates in the waters off the Libyan coast in addition to Chinook helicopters and reconnaissance planes based on Malta. The country is also sending Tornado bombers and Typhoon fighters to the region. Both Sicily and Crete are considered to be likely bases for the planes.
* France has several bases on the Mediterranean coast and on the island of Corsica. In addition, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with 35 aircraft is currently in the Mediterranean.
* Belgium has announced that it can be counted on for six F-16 bombers.
* Spain has offered both aircraft and ships as well as the use of airstrips in Andalusia in the southern part of the country.
* Italy has said it will support the international coalition against Libya "without reserve" and has offered the use of several air bases in the country.
* Canada has said it will send aircraft with local media reporting that Ottowa is planning to help out with six planes and 200 support personnel.
* The US has a total of 40 F-16s in Italy in addition to several ships and a helicopter carrier with two dozen aircraft in the region. It is possible that the new F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter could be used in battle for the first time, but they would have to be transferred to Italy from Virginia first. The US also has several drones available.
* Qatar has announced its intention to assist in the mission as well. Egypt is currently delivering weapons to rebels across the border.
Germany has declined a direct role in the mission and joined China and Russia in abstaining from Thursday's Security Council vote, which was 10-0 in favor of the resolution. It had been supported most vehemently by France, Great Britain and Lebanon, with the US having joined the pro-no-fly zone camp in recent days.
In comments to German parliament on Friday, Westerwelle rationalized his government's position by expressing concern over possible civilian victims. "Any military operation brings civilian victims," he said. "We know that from painful experience. We have often talked about this regarding operations in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Ousting Gadhafi
Rebels in Benghazi have expressed doubt about the sincerity of Gadhafi's ceasefire offer and have also reported ongoing fighting in town of Misurata. In north-eastern Libya, where rebels had been firmly ensconced for weeks prior to recent advances in the region by pro-Gadhafi forces, skepticism reigned. "It's just for TV," said Salah Hussein, who was watching the ceasefire announcement, according to Reuters. "In fact, he is still fighting in Ajdabiyah. He is trying to get more time. He is crazy and will fight till he dies."
Many have interpreted Gadhafi's rapid announcement as an indication that he was prepared for the UN resolution. Indeed, the ceasefire has quickly returned the ball to the court of the international community. And while the West has pledged to move ahead with installing the no-fly zone, plenty of questions remain. What, for example, will the West do should the rebels choose to use the cover of the no-fly zone for further operations? The UN resolution, after all, calls for the protection of civilians, not for regime change.
Furthermore, should sorties ultimately become necessary, Western militaries don't really know what to expect. On paper, Gadhafi has 200 Soviet-era anti-aircraft batteries from the 1970s and 1980s. How many of them might be operational is unclear. The last time they were used was way back in 1986, when the US carried out air strikes on Tripoli and Benghazi -- and Libyan air defenses performed miserably.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday seemed to indicate that Gadhafi's chess move was not going to provide him much respite. Speaking in Washington, Clinton said that international action was aimed at ousting the Libyan leader "one step at a time."
"Colonel Gadhafi's refusal to hear the repeated calls up until now to halt violence against his own people has left us with no other choice but to pursue this course of action," she said.
cgh -- with wire repo
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,751811,00.html
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