Gaddafi defies West, continues attacks ahead of summit

Libyan gov't forces push into rebel-held city of Benghazi; Clinton, Sarkozy, Cameron meet in Paris before summit on military action.

By REUTERS
Libyan Soldiers Tank 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS)
Libyan Soldiers Tank 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS)
BENGHAZI, Libya - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces pushed into the rebel-held city of Benghazi on Saturday, defying world demands for an immediate ceasefire and forcing rebels to retreat.
The advance into Libya's second city of 670,000 people appeared to be an attempt to pre-empt Western military intervention which diplomats say will come only after an international meeting on Paris on Saturday starting at 1300 GMT.
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met in Paris an hour before wider international talks on Libya, a US official said.
European leaders were sitting down with Clinton and representatives of the European Union and Arab League to discuss coordination over a UN-mandated military intervention in Libya to halt attacks by Muammar Gaddafi's troops on rebel forces.
A Libyan rebel spokesman said Gaddafi's forces had entered Benghazi while a Reuters witness saw a jet circling over the city shot down and at least one separate explosion near the rebel movement's headquarters in the city.
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"They have entered Benghazi from the west. Where are the Western powers? They said they could strike within hours," rebel military spokesman Khalid al-Sayeh told Reuters.
Gaddafi said Western powers had no right to intervene in Libya.
"This is injustice, this is clear aggression," government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim quoted Gaddafi as saying in a letter to France, Britain and the United Nations. "You will regret it if you take a step towards interfering in our internal affairs."
The Libyan government blamed the rebels, who it says are members of al Qaeda, for breaking the ceasefire around Benghazi.
As explosions shook Benghazi, rebel fighters said they were being forced to retreat from the outskirts of the city where the revolt against Gaddafi began a month ago.
A fighter jet was shot down over Benghazi.
"I saw the plane circle around, come out of the clouds, head towards an apparent target, and then it was hit and went straight down in flames and a huge billow of black smoke went up," Reuters correspondent Angus MacSwan said.
"It seems it was attacking the Benghazi military barracks."
Rebel city doubts West
Benghazi residents were angry at the West's delay. "Europe and America have sold us out. We have been hearing bombing all night, and they have been doing nothing. Why? we have no one to help us but God," said Hassan Marouf, 58, standing outside the door of his house in Benghazi.
"Us men are not afraid to die, but I have women and children inside and they are crying and in tears. Help us."
The French ambassador to the United Nations said he thought Western powers would not take military action till after the Paris meeting, attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Arab leaders.
"Everything is ready but the decision is now a political one," said a French government source. "It's clear we have to move quickly."
Rebels said Libyan jets had bombed the road to Benghazi airport and elsewhere on the outskirts.
Libyan rebels said they were being forced back by Gaddafi's forces. Black plumes of smoke could be seen on the road to the west of the city, a Reuters witness said.
"We have no hope in the Western forces," said Khalid Ahmed, a rebel fighter, as around him rebel forces pulled back from the advancing front line.
Elsewhere in the city, rebels reported skirmishes and strikes by Gaddafi forces.
"Fighter jets bombed the road to the airport and there's been an air strike on the Abu Hadi district on the outskirts," Mohammed Dwo, a hospital worker and a rebel supporter, told Reuters.