Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi has said, he will arm civilians to defend Libya from what he called colonial, crusader aggression. He threatened to attack military and civilian targets in the Mediterranean in retaliation for Western air and sea strikes on his country. Western forces launched air strikes on Libya after the UN Security Council passed a resolution authorising a no-fly zone and the use of all necessary measures to protect civilians.

Gaddafi’ said, Libya will exercise its right to self defence under article 51 of the United Nations charter, adding that the Mediterranean and North Africa were now a battleground. He also called on Arab, Islamic, African, Latin American and Asian countries to “stand by the Libyan people to confront this aggression, which will only increase his people’s strength, firmness and unity”.

The US and European nations pounded Moammar Gaddafi’s forces and air defenses last night with cruise missiles and air strikes, launching the broadest international military effort since the Iraq war.

Libyan TV quoted the armed forces command as saying 48 people were killed and 150 wounded in the allied assault. It said most of the casualties were children but gave no more details.

The US military said, 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from American and British ships and submarines at more than 20 coastal targets to clear the way for air patrols to ground Libya’s air force. French fighter jets fired the first salvos, carrying out several strikes in the rebel-held east.

President Barack Obama said, military action was not his first choice and reiterated that he would not send American ground troops to Libya. Obama said from Brazil, where he is starting a five-day visit to Latin America that his country cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people there will be no mercy.

Meanwhile, thousands of regime supporters, packed into the sprawling Bab al-Aziziya military camp in Tripoli where Gadhafi lives to protect against attacks.