Photo by AFP
As the uprising in Libya continues, we update you with the latest developments from our correspondents, news agencies and citizens across the globe. Al Jazeera is not responsible for content derived from external sites.
The Guardian newspaper's Chris McGreal says he saw four plumes of smoke rise near Ajdabiya after hearing planes overhead, indicating a possible coalition air strike there - the first reported one today.
Crilly (the Telegraph correspondent who just found the downed US plane) earlier reported that rebels and coalitions forces were coordinating the strikes. Coalition spokesmen have tried to avoid the appearance of taking sides in their official comments, but have indicated that the no-fly zone and military campaign to carry out the UN Security Council resolution is ultimately aimed at ending Gaddafi's regime.
Two minutes after writing on Twitter that it was a "good day to check out a dodgy sounding tip," Telegraph newspapers correspondent Rob Crilly said he had found a US warplane that apparently crash-landed in a field late last night. The Telegraph says the plane seems to be an F-15E. Crilly has been reporting from the rebel stronghold on Benghazi, in the east.
Libyan expats are tweeting short snippets about their family and friends and what it was like for them to live under the tyranny of Gaddafi's 41-year regime, using the hashtags #100factsaboutme and #gaddaficrimes:
@LibyaCyrenaica: "I am Libyan and #Gaddafi shot my 16 year old cousin in the spine. He is now paralyzed."
@bunbunbunnyyy: "My father's friends in college were tortured & murdered by #gaddafi , we have yet to see justice."
@AliLePointe: "My dad and 1000s of others had attempts on their lives when they started speaking against #gaddafi in '70s."
@Bint_Al_Sahraa: "Some of my relatives r very high ranking G goons, are an embarrassment to my family for their roles in #gaddaficrimes"
@Tripolitanian: "#Gaddafi used to promise every man woman and child $5000 from oil profits, gave us bullets instead."
Three journalists who went missing in eastern Libya more than 72 hours ago have been arrested by Gaddafi troops, the AFP news agency reports. AFP reporter Dave Clark and photographer Roberto Schmidt were arrested along with Getty photographer Joe Raedle, their driver says.
The team drove from Tobruk, near the border with Egypt, to Ajdabiya, which had fallen under the regime's control. They encountered a convoy of military jeeps and transport vehicles "a few dozen kilometres" from Ajdabiya and were arrested by regime soldiers, along with other civilians who came down the road.
Apparently, the journalists told AFP editors they were going to head around 35km outside of Tobruk to speak with refugees. Ajdabiya is 403km from Tobruk via a straight, inland road that runs between two towns.
Pakistan's foreign office has issued a carefully-worded statement on the intervention but appears to be opposed to military action:
Pakistan is following, with serious concern, the developments in Libya in the wake of the military strikes. The loss of precious human lives is indeed regrettable. Peaceful political solution needs to be evolved by the Libyan people themselves in the spirit of mutual accommodation and national reconciliation.
The statement also gives credence to the regime's claim of civilian casualties, calling such reports "extremely distressing."
China isn't backing down on its opposition to the no-fly zone. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu used a regular news briefing today to say that China had "deep concern" about civilian casualties and the possibility of a "humanitarian disaster" and wanted an end to the fighting.
Though Gaddafi's regime claims dozens of people have died in the air strikes, there's no way of knowing for sure, and the coalition has completely denied any civilian casualties.
Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh tells us that Iraqi Shia political leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday announced he "refuses and denounces" the foreign military intervention in Libya.
So far, the military coalition enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya and attacking Gaddafi forces on the ground has been an entirely Western affair: The United States, United Kingdom and France have provided all of the forces in action, while other nations have made bases available and offered support, if necessary.
That's about to change. Reuters reports that six Qatari Mirage fighter jets are due to land at a military base in Souda, Crete, today. We don't know yet how they'll participate in the action. Twelve F-16s and 12 Mirages from the United Arab Emirates are also going to head to Sicily soon, but the exact date isn't know, Reuters says.
New video purports to show the results of the battle for the western town of Misurata, home to a major oil refinery, where the Gaddafi regime and the opposition disagree about who is currently in control. The government claims Misurata was "liberated" three days ago, but the rebels claim they retain control. This video shows at least three abandoned Gaddafi tanks and an armoured personnel carrier.
It seems that the spat about whether Gaddafi's regime used journalists as "human shields" Sunday night is more over terminology than fact.
Nobody disputes that journalists from CNN, Reuters, CBS, Channel 4, the AP and the Times of London were brought to the Bab al-Azizia after a missile strike there. Niall Paterson, defence correspondent for Sky News, wrote on Twitter on Monday that the British military chose to abort a Tornado strike on the compound when it learned that the journalists (and other civilians) were in the vicinity.
CNN may have been singled out for attention because it was broadcasting live from the scene.
Whether Gaddafi's men knew about another attack and brought the journalists there on purpose to prevent it - that's the question.
The 'road of death' links Libya's Benghazi to Tripoli, as Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reports. Watch here:
Only one in three Britons agree with the decision to take military action in Libya, according to a poll published on Monday. The ComRes/ITN survey found that 43 per cent disagreed with the action and 22 per cent were unsure.
But in parliament, British legislators voted 557 to 13 in favour of military involvement.
Libyan state television reports that Libyans keep backing their leader, with crowds flocking to al-Aziziah square to show their support. It also says many world capitals are witnessing demonstrations in support for Libya while the "crusader enemy" continues bombing civilian targets.
CNN correspondent Nic Robertson dismisses a report by Fox News that journalists in Libya were used by Gaddafi's forces as human shields. He says the allegation is "outrageous and it's absolutely hypocritical".
"When you come to somewhere like Libya, you expect lies and deceit from the dictatorship here. You don't expect it from the other journalists."
Our correspondent Anita McNaught says the government claims there have been heavy civilian casualties in coalition attacks on two major airports. Journalists have been invited to visit hospitals on Tuesday.
Anti-aircraft rounds fired in Tripoli [Reuters]
Brazil's foreign ministry has spoken out about the events in Libya, saying in a statement:
Brazil laments the loss of life occurring in the conflict in the country. The Brazilian government has the expectation of the implementation of an effective ceasefire as soon as possible, with the capacity to guarantee the protection of the civil population, and create conditions for the path for dialogue.
"Brazil reiterates her solidarity with the Libyan people and their participation in the future politics of the country in an environment that protects human rights.”
Al Jazeera Arabic reports that coalition forces have hit radar installations at two air defence bases east of Benghazi.
Fox News reports that Gaddafi's regime has used journalists as human shields. The US broadcaster said an attack on Gaddafi's compound on Sunday had to be curtailed because of journalists nearby.
British sources confirmed that seven Storm Shadow missiles were ready to be fired from a British aircraft, but the strikes had to be curtailed due to crews from CNN, Reuters and other organizations nearby. Officials from Libya's Ministry of Information brought those journalists to the area to show them damage from the initial attack and to effectively use them as human shields"
The UN Security Council has turned down a Libyan request for a special meeting to discuss what it called "military aggression" by coalition forces. The council said it would wait for a briefing on Thursday by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on how the resolution that set up the no-fly zone is being implemented.
President Barack Obama says the United States expects to transfer the lead military role in Libya to other allies in a matter of days.
NATO will be involved in helping to co-ordinate the next phase of action in Libya, the US president said.
Al Arabiya television reported late on Monday that the western Libyan city of Misurata is now controlled by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.
The channel was quoting a spokesman for Gaddafi's forces. There were no further details. Due to a lack of communications, the report has yet to be confirmed.
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