Despotic Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi is just a few hours away from UN backed airstrikes that stand to topple his regime.
Over the past month rebels opposed to Gaddafi's rule have occupied several large towns and cities towards the north of the country, including Libya's second city Benghazi. Gaddafi loyalists have staged a series of attacks on the rebel stronghold killing hundreds of civilians in the process.
On Thursday night the UN Security Council sanctioned a no-fly zone over Libya and agreed to "all necessary measures" needed to protect civilians from Gaddafi's forces short of an invasion. Crucially, the wording of Security Council Resolution 1973 gives legal backing to preventative airstrikes against Libyan forces and military infrastructure.
Last night, in a calculated bid to delay military action against his supporters, Gaddafi announced a ceasefire. As early as this morning, in another act of defiance to the international community, Gaddafi's forces were shelling the outskirts of Benghazi and buzzing the city with fighter aircraft. Huge cheers erupted as one fighter, apparently a Russian built MiG-23, fell from the sky in a trail of flames.
An international force led by France is amassing in the Mediterranean in preparation for strikes against Libya.
I'm expecting the first action at dusk tonight.
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