NATO airstrike targets Libyan state-run TV

[News_Editor]

NATO airstrike targets Libyan state-run TV

2011-07-30 17:10:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

TRIPOLI (BNO NEWS) -- NATO aircraft on early Saturday morning carried out an airstrike against three ground-based Libyan state television satellite transmission dishes in Tripoli, officials said.

NATO spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said the intent of the strike was to degrade Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's use of satellite television as a means to 'intimidate the Libyan people and incite acts of violence against them.' "

"Our intervention was necessary as TV was being used as an integral component of the regime apparatus designed to systematically oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them," Lavoire said. "Gaddafi's increasing practice of inflammatory broadcasts illustrates his regime's policy to instill hatred among Libyans, to mobilize its supporters against civilians and to trigger bloodshed. In light of our mandate to protect civilian lives, we had to act."

The spokesman said NATO was still in the process to assess the effects of the airstrike, but there were no immediate reports of civilian casualties. "Striking specifically these critical satellite dishes will reduce the regime's ability to oppress civilians while at the same time preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict," Lavoire added.

Libya has been engulfed in a civil war since an uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's regime began in mid-February, while Libyan forces have been accused of violently cracking down on anti-government protesters. It led to UN Security Council Resolution 1973 which authorized member states to impose a no-fly zone over the North African country and to take 'all necessary measures' to protect civilians.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-30

[flying]

Still going huh?

Wonder how spending $$$ they don't have is working out for those involved?

Wonder what they hope to achieve & will they be any happier with the results than the current situation.

What it shows is that, besides the US - which dominates operations with over 8,000 personnel in the area in several ships and aircraft at the peak of the first weeks of the war - the weight of the conflict has fallen on the British, Italians, French and Canadians. The British have flown around 1,300 sorties, some 25% of the total, followed by the French with 1,200 and the Italians with 600. The Canadians, who have the HMCS Charllottetown in the region, have taken part in over 350 sorties up to the 5 May this year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/22/nato-libya-data-journalism-operations-country

Edited July 30, 2011 by flying