Obama promises no "break" in the offensive in Libya

LONDON - Firmly united against Muammar Gadhafi, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron promised on Wednesday a relentless and punishing pummeling of his forces in Libya but also pleaded for patience for an effort with no clear end in sight. Obama ruled out a deadline for ending NATO's military assault, saying only that it would be over "in a timely fashion."

"gadhafi and his regime need to understand that there will not be a letup in the pressure that we are applying," Obama said, even as Libyan rebels clashed with mercenaries fighting for Gadhafi and less than a day after NATO intensified its bombardment of the Libyan capital. Britain's leader, hosting a news conference with Obama, said the two agreed on a need to "be turning up the heat in Libya."

The Libyan crisis and the broader Arab uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East will be major topics as Obama, Cameron and leaders of other wealthy nations head to the Group of Eight gathering in the Normandy resort of DeauvilleFrance, for talks that begin Thursday. The world's top economies are scrambling to figure out how to help countries with democratic transitions without being seen as heavy-handed.

For Obama and Cameron, the bullish language on Gadhafi came as the international community has stepped up both the air campaign and diplomatic efforts against him in a bid to break a virtual stalemate between the rebels in the east of Libya and Gadhafi, who maintains a stranglehold on most of the west.

The NATO mission, authorized by a United Nations mandate, is intended to save lives but not to create a regime change - as Cameron reminded everyone on Wednesday.

In essence, however, Gadhafi has become a target, as has his presidential compound. NATO's official line is that the compound is a command-and-control center and that it is not trying to kill Gadhafi.

Despite the unified Anglo-American position, there were signs of growing resistance from Russia, which did not veto the intervention at the United Nations, at the extent and intensity of the bombing campaign.

On Wednesday, Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin, went so far as to accuse unnamed NATO members of laying plans for a ground invasion and exceeding the U.N. mandate.

"We do not understand why, instead of an embargo on delivery of weapons, there suddenly was introduced a complete sea blockade of Libya, why pass." "gadhafi was personally declared as a legitimate target despite (the fact) that this U.N. resolution was directed at stimulating a political dialogue between the opposing sides," Rogozin said in Brussels, according to the state RIA Novosti agency.

Away from Tripoli, Libyan rebels clashed Wednesday with Sudanese mercenaries fighting for Gadhafi near the border with Sudan. Gadhafi has long provided arms, training and vehicles to various rebel groups in Sudan.

The resolve and political will of the nations involved in challenging Libya's government are being tested as Gadhafi remains entrenched.

"I believe that we have built enough momentum that as long as we sustain the course that we're on, that he is ultimately going to step down," Obama said. He refused to say how long that would take, calling any such artificial timeline. But he added that if the coalition shows resolve and pours in resources, "we're going to be able to achieve our mission in a timely fashion."

"The two key things here are patience and persistence," Cameron added.

Neither is in huge supply in the United States given that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan U.S.-led have raged on for years.

The U.S. and British leaders said that Gadhafi has seen his military power and grip on the country since this campaign began, under United Nations authority, degraded as an emergency effort to protect the civilians who have been challenging him. The United States and Britain remain adamant that they will not send in ground forces even as the try to support the rebels other ways.

"Ultimately this is going to be a slow, steady process in which we're able to wear down the regime forces," Obama said. Pushing back against those who may question the success of the effort, Obama raised the prospect of some false perception that NATO had some secret air assets it wasn't employing, and then he shot it down.

"Once you rule out ground forces, then there are going to be some inherent limitations to our air strike operations," Obama said. "It means that the opposition on the ground in Libya is going to have to carry out its responsibilities."

That opposition remains weak. And NATO, the North Atlantic military alliance that took over command of the campaign from the U.S. on March 31, appears to have no clear exit strategy. Two of the allies, Britain and France, have descended into public squabbling over bringing the fight closer to Gadhafi with attack helicopters, something France plans to do but that Cameron avoided addressing directly when asked Wednesday.

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim reacted angrily to Obama's assertion that Gadhafi should leave power against the threat of a relentless campaign.

"Gadhafi's destiny, Gadhafi's future, is for the Libyan nation to decide," Ibrahim said. "It would be a much more productive statement to say that the Libyan people need to engage in an inclusive, peaceful, democratic, transparent, political process in which they can thing the shape of their political system and the leaders of their system""," he said.

On the other hand, rebel media spokesman Jalal Gallal said Obama's statement was "very positive news." "We are on the same wavelength."

"We all are agreed in a vision of a democratic Libya without Gadhafi, his family or any member of his inner circle." We also concur that there will be no foreign troops on the ground. We need the international community, the air cover, until the objective is met, and that we have. "it is just going to take a little longer than necessary."

He repeated the rebels' call for heavy weapons to match Gadhafi's arsenal: "given the right equipment and training, we can do the job ourselves."

Witnesses in Libya have reported African mercenary fighters shooting at protesters or being captured by anti-Gadhafi forces. Some were flown in to put down the rebellion, but most fighters were already in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, in NATO airstrikes overnight, British aircraft hit four of Gadhafi's armored vehicles near the Libyan city of Zlitan, British military spokesman Maj. Gen. John Lorimer said in a statement. Tornado and Typhoon jets also destroyed a radar station in the coastal city of Brega during the Tuesday night raid.

Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, called on the South African leader Jacob Zuma to push forward negotiations to end the three-month conflict when he arrives next week in Tripoli.

Zuma is the highest-ranking politician to visit Gadhafi since the fighting began in Libya.

Kaim told The Associated Press the Gadhafi government is hoping Zuma will help arrange a cease-fire between Libyan government forces, NATO and the rebels, and oversee a transitional period.

Citing a deep mistrust of Gadhafi and emboldened by NATO strikes, the rebels have insisted Gadhafi must leave power before any negotiations can take place.

Throwing into doubt the effectiveness of Zuma's visit, the South African leader will not be meeting representatives of the interim government based in the de-facto rebel capital of Benghazi.

Kaim said there was no need for Zuma to consult the interim government, on grounds it does not represent most of the rebel insurgents currently battling Gadhafi's forces.

Avenge Ben Laden: Spring Offensive Unleash Taliban in Afghanistan

Veterans Taliban conducted a series of overall coordinated attacks the embattled southern Afghan city of Kandahar Saturday - a campaign which President Afghan Hamid Karzai characterized as "revenge" for the death of Osama bin Laden. Insurgents attacked first the Palace of the provincial Governor with powered rocket grenades and weapons light and then launched a series of strikes throughout the city against the headquarters of the National Police Afghan (ANP) and the transport Police, on the Police substation and various other forces of Afghan national security (ANSF) and international security and Assistance Force (ISAF) building in both the city of Kandahar and in the Arghandab River Valley, the ISAF has reported. Between a dozen and two dozen people were injured in the fighting, reported Afghan media. All suicide bombers were killed.

"Al-Qaeda and its terrorist members who have suffered a major defeat with the assassination of Osama bin Laden on Pakistani territory have attempted to hide this defeat by killing civilians in Kandahar and take their revenge on the innocent people of the Afghanistan,"Karzai said in a release." The link between the attacks of Kandahar and the death of bin Laden has been strengthened by a view Declaration on many jihadist Web sites Saturday in which the Taliban said that "the Islamic Emirate [the Taliban for its own name] believes that the martyrdom of Sheikh Osama bin Laden will give new impetus to the current jihad against invaders" in this phase is critical of jihad. Tides of jihad will gain strength and width. The next time will be this time for friends and enemies. "The Declaration was signed by"branch"of al-Qaeda. But later, the Taliban spokesman insisted that the attacks had been in the works for months, reported press wire. (See the photos of the Lair of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan).

"Initial reports indicate that between three and six suicide bombers were arrested - or detonating prematurely or be killed before they could explode," said U.S. Marine Corps major-General James B. Laster, Chief Deputy to the Joint command ISAF joint operations, in a press release. ISAF reported that none of the attackers breached the walls of one of the compounds. The fighting started around 1 pm when the insurgents began to draw the Governor Toryalai Wesa compound. Waves of gunfire could still be heard throughout the city at 4 pm. Pajhwok News Agency has reported that 20 explosions struck the city in the course of the fighting, including two suicide bombs.

Spokesman for the Taliban Qari Yusuf Ahmadi said Tolo TV news that a number of Taliban fighters had taken to target four government buildings in the city of Kandahar and that they had inflicted victims on the Government, a statement later refused by the Government. In a video of Tolo a heavy plume of light gray smoke can be seen rising from the city as maggot General fresh helicopters and gunfire can be heard talking in the background. An Afghan National Army soldier can be seen patrolling the streets with an AK-47 at the ready, while the locals go about their business. Few cars or auto rickshaw is visible in the normally crowded streets. More recently, the city has been the theatre of a jailbreak orchestrated by the Taliban out of hundreds of inmates at the main prison of the city, including hundreds of fighters. A few days earlier, a suicide bomber dressed as a police officer killed Khan General Mohammed Mujahid, head of the Kandahar provincial police. (See the photos of the battle against the Taliban).

"This was clearly intended to be a spectacular offensive attack of spring," said major-general Laster, in the press release of the ISAF, battles of today. "." Indeed, the insurgent group was faithful to their word, as coordinated attacks come just a week after the announcement of Taliban, he was ready to begin in the spring of traditional fighting season in an effort to show the force after a winter of lossesobservers noted. However, after that of the United Nations Statistics were released earlier this year showing that the Taliban was responsible for 75% of the dead civilian in 2010, the group is clearly indicated in his statement that he would not harm civilians, apparently aware of indignation triggered by dozens of dead civilians caused by a series of attacks in February and March. Yet, the group warned that "all Afghans should keep in mind to stay away from gatherings, convoys and the centres of the enemy," in the Declaration. In the ongoing battle of big picture for the hearts and minds in Afghanistan major-general Laster added that, "the insurgents claimed they would protect civilians in their release in the spring offensive, however even today that they have injured more than civil".

The ad week last by the Taliban that it would intensify attacks in the coming months, coupled with the murder of Ben Laden sparked fears among the Afghans and foreigners as long as there is a significant increase in violence. Death of Osama bin Laden "is an opportunity for the Taliban to intensify their activities because there will be advertising the same." All US forces here and Iraq should be on high alert increased. "This has increased the likelihood of further attacks," Chris Barry, an civil by Major Crimes Taskforce investigating the army U.S. - a unit to investigate the murders of high representatives of the Afghan Government level - said in time on the day of the death of Osama bin Laden. (See pictures of people celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden).

In a further warning, Mashal Lotfullah, spokesman for the National Directorate of security, said at a press conference that "the death of Osama does not mean the end of terrorism, because al-Qaida is spreading like a spider NET on the Afghanistan and in other countries."

Taliban declare spring offensive

  the Taliban have claimed a number of deadly attacks on foreign and Afghan troops in recent weeks, the Taliban announced the start of an offensive of spring through the Afghanistan.

In a statement, the group said that the fighting would begin Sunday, targeting Afghan foreign troops and the security forces and officials.

He has warned civilians to stay away from public gatherings, military bases, government buildings and convoys.

During this initial time of the finding of a NATO investigation into a deadly attack at the airport in Kabul on Wednesday suggested the shooter was not linked to the Taliban.

The man, an Afghan driver, killed eight US soldiers and a contractor. Later, he was found dead.

The Taliban claimed the attack, but the coalition said no there was no evidence for this and the gunman appeared to have acted alone.

Statement by the Taliban Saturday, said that the Group would attack "foreign invasion forces, members of their networks of espionage and other spies, senior officials of the administration of puppets of Kabul".

He said the war would continue "until the foreign invasion forces out of Afghanistan".

The Taliban have claimed a series of attacks in recent weeks - including the assassination of the Chief of police in Kandahar Mujahid of Mohammed Khan and an attack on an Afghan base near Jalalabad that killed five foreigners and five Afghan soldiers of suicide.

However Friday, a Pentagon report says insurgents momentum was "largely arrested" after an outbreak of the American troupe last year.

The Afghan Taliban declares the beginning of the spring offensive (Reuters)

the Taliban declared the beginning of a spring offensive, on Saturday they were targeting foreign troops in Afghanistan in custody and the forces of Afghan security and representatives of the Government in a wave of attacks across the country.

In a statement, the Islamic radicals warned Afghan civilians to stay away from public gatherings, of military bases and convoys, as well as the Government Afghan centres, as it would be the object of attacks.

The Taliban statement comes a day after senior military officials and Western diplomats warned that they expected a surge in attacks by militants in the next week.

"Operations will focus on attacks against the military centres, places of gatherings, air bases, ammunition and logistical military convoys of foreign invaders from all regions of the country," the Taliban said in the statement.

Senior military officials said Friday recent intelligence reports indicated that the attacks planned by the Taliban, the Haqqani network linked to al-Qaeda and other insurgents, backed include suicide attacks.

Two senior commanders coalition said that they have planned that increased violence campaign would last about a week.

Washington and commanders of the-led NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have trumpeted success against a growing insurgency since 30,000 additional U.S. troops were sent to Afghanistan last year.

The statement of the Taliban, said the target of an operation, he called "Attachés" would be foreign forces, senior officials of the Government of President Hamid Karzai, cabinet members and legislators, and the heads of foreign and local companies working for the NATO-led coalition.

"All Afghans should not forget to keep away from the rallies, convoys and the centres of the enemy, so that they will be step bound fate of Mujahedin attacks against the enemy," said the Taliban.

Senior commanders have planned since long a spike in violence with the arrival of spring and summer "fighting season", although the usual lull of winter was not seen as forces led by the United States pressed their attack on insurgents, particularly in southern heartland of the Taliban.

Violence through the Afghanistan reached record levels in 2010, with civilian and military losses worse since U.S. backed by Afghan forces ousted the Taliban late 2001 Government.

The Pentagon said in a semi-annual report on Friday an overall increase of violence was due in part to a targeting increased insurgent safe havens and the unusually mild winter weather.