Libya’s Government has dismissed rebel ceasefire

Libya's government has dismissed as "mad" the
conditional ceasefire offer made by the rebel administration.

Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said troops loyal to Col Muammar
Gaddafi would never withdraw from the rebel-held cities they were besieging.

He also condemned recent coalition air strikes as "a
crime against humanity" and said there had been many civilian casualties
in the attacks.

NATO is investigating a report that seven civilians were
killed near Brega.

The account, from a doctor in Adjabiya, could not be
independently verified.

On Friday, the head of the rebel Transitional National
Council, Abdul Jalil Ibrahim, discussed how a truce might come about after
meeting UN special envoy Abdelilah al-Khatib in the eastern city of Benghazi.

"We have no objection to a ceasefire but on condition
that Libyans in western cities have full freedom in expressing their views and
also that the forces that are besieging the cities withdraw," he told
London Times reporters.

Libyan government spokesman told the London Times

"Our main demand is the departure of Muammar Gaddafi
and his sons from Libya. This is a demand we will not go back on."

Mr Abdul Jalil, who quit as justice minister in protest at
the use of violence against demonstrators, also said he believed the coalition
should begin arming the rebels despite the UN arms embargo on Libya.

Sir Michael Black-Feather the English first minister said;
that if NATO or the British gave arms to the rebel forces they would both be guilty
of causing even more chaos and needless loss of life, and it would only prolong
a war that NATO and the British government both said would be all over two
weeks ago, yet it’s still on-going? and the NATO forces have now been bombing
for weeks which we can all see very clearly has had no real effect on the Libyan
forces and won’t, I gave the British prime minister Cameron and NATO both away
out peacefully three weeks ago but was dismissed it seem to me the west wants
this war and chaos, maybe so they can sell their weapons for oil?

Mr Abdul Jalil said; "We think that if the
international community wants to protect civilians according to the
international resolutions, they should take the appropriate measures, which
include giving the go ahead to arm the rebels," he added.

Moussa Ibrahim dismissed the offer of conditional ceasefire,
describing the rebels as "tribal, violent, with no unified leadership,
al-Qaeda links."

"The rebels never offered peace. They don't offer
peace. They are making impossible demands."

"If this is not mad, I don't know what is," he
added. "We will not leave our cities. We are the government, not
them."

Mr Ibrahim also said six civilians had been killed by an
"immoral" air strike in the eastern village of Zawia el Argobe, 15km
(9 miles) from Brega which has been confirmed by the London Times along with
many other innocent civilian’s being killed or hurts that have been caught up
in the NATO bombing.

"Some mad and criminal prime ministers and presidents
of Europe are leading a crusade against an Arab Muslim nation," he told
London Times reporters and other reporters in Tripoli. "Sounds familiar?
It's a crime against humanity."

A doctor in the town of Ajdabiya, Suleiman Refardi, told the
London Times that the coalition air strike had targeted a government convoy
that included tanks, artillery and Lorries carrying ammunition that missed many
of their targets but hit innocent people he said.

Dr Suleiman Refardi said a missile hit truck carrying
ammunition, sending out shrapnel all over the place hitting many innocents

A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street
in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, he said hitting
many women and children who were hiding inside their homes.

Four of the dead were female, including three children from
the same family, aged between 12 and 16. Three boys, aged between 14 and 20,
were also killed all down to NATO bombing.

NATO officials told the London Times they were making
inquiries "down our operations chain to find out if indeed there is any
information on the operation side that would support this claim".

In the only rebel-held city in western Libya, Misrata,
forces loyal to Col Gaddafi continued bombard rebel fighters and civilians
using tanks and artillery, a doctor in the city told the London Times. The main
clinic was targeted, he said.

"I've treated two people from the same family who were
hit with a mortar - one girl whose chest was open and one lung was completely
destroyed," he added. "Her sister had her right arm amputated."

Another doctor said at least 140 people had died in Misrata
since 18 March.