Gaddafi's forces set for Benghazi, AL mulls 'no-fly' zone

Cairo (PTI) Forces loyal to Libyan leader
Mummar Gaddafi on Saturday were within striking distance of
the main opposition-held eastern city of Benghazi after they
stormed into the city of Brega, as the Arab League mulled
support for a 'no-fly' zone over the restive country.
With air supremacy and a big advantage in tanks,
Gaddafi's forces are keeping up the momentum on the ground.
"The rebel forces, who for weeks rapidly advanced on
the capital Tripoli in a bid to oust Gaddafi, are loosing
steam to the better armed government forces," al-Jazeera
reported from Brega.
Anti-Gaddafi rebels have been pushed out of the
northern oil town of Ras Lanuf, reports said. BBC said the
government forces now control the town and its oil refinery.
The fall of the town was confirmed by Libya's former
interior minister Gen Abdul Fateh Younis, who has defected to
the rebels. But he vowed that his fighters would launch a
counter-attack latest by Sunday.
The Arab channel said that Gaddafi's forces were now
in a good position to take on Benghazi, Libya's second largest
city and the seat of the rebels' National opposition Council,
which was recognised by France recently.
Columns of Libyan tanks backed by fighters and
gunships entered the city of Brega, which was captured by the
rebels just a week back after fierce fighting.
Under pressure from the pro-Gaddafi forces, the rebels
have repeatedly called on the international community to
impose a 'no-fly' zone to stop air strikes on cities, but have
been against foreign military intervention on the ground.
The 22-member Arab League at an emergency meeting in
Cairo on Saturday mulled support of plans to impose a no-fly
zone over Libya.
It is also considering to open channels of contact
with rebel body of national council, media reports quoting
sources said.
"The United Nations, the Arab League, the African
Union, the Europeans - everyone should participate," Amr
Mussa, the League's Secretary General, told the German weekly
Der Spiegel.
A sanction by the Arab League is likely to pave the
way for the US and its European allies to go ahead with
enforcing the zone, which effectively neutralise Gaddafi's air
power.
As the sea-saw battle continued in Libya, US President
Barack Obama has warned that "the noose" around Libyan ruler
was tightening and said the international community had an
obligation to prevent a Rawanda-style civilian massacre in the
north African nation.
"Across the board, we are slowly tightening the noose
on Gaddafi," Obama said at a White House news conference,
which was dominated by the Libyan uprising and the Japanese
tsunami tragedy.
The apex court in its judgement quashed Thomas'
appointment on the ground that it was "non-est" (illegal) in
the eyes of the law and upheld the PIL filed by the Centre for
Public Interest Litigation(CPIL) that he could not be
appointed to the post in view of a pending criminal case.
Thomas said his review petition has to be considered
by a larger Constitution Bench in the light of Article 146
(3) under which the minimum number of judges who are to sit
for the purpose of deciding any case involving a substantial
question of law as to the interpretation of this constitution
or for the purpose of hearing any reference under Article 143
shall be five.
"Whether the Hon'ble Supreme Court was correct in
reaching conclusions based on the palmolein case, without
going into the merits of the palmolein case at the time of
arguments observing that "we are concerned about future
appointments"? the petition asked.
According to the petition the Supreme Court was duty
bound to appreciate the fact that the FIR (first information
report) in the palmolein oil case is more than 20 years old
and he was prevented from taking steps for quashing the
proceedings due to the stay granted by the apex court.
He submitted that quashing the appointment resulted in
miscarriage of justice not only to the Thomas but to all civil
servants of the country "because the mere lodging of an FIR is
sufficient to stop a honest officer from taking charge of the
coveted post and shall spoil his career prospects", the
petition contended.
Thomas stated that the apex court failed to consider
the danger of condemning a honest officer only on the
presumption of guilt without trial and without appreciating
the fact that it will demoralise the entire officers working
in similar circumstances ,and it can also affect their
discharge of duties with out fear and favour.