-- told the rebels in bengazi, "we are coming!e are coming." there have been counseled that any interference from the outside would be difficult. this is not the rhetoric of a government that is not ready to back down on its promise to bring the country under its control. >> michael from los angeles is an expert on security measures and the middle east. thank you very much. do you think it makes any difference that this un resolution is not unanimous? >> not particularly. looking at where we were in this debate last week when russia and then chinese reticence looked to be an impossible hurdle to clear, the debate shifted rather quickly. it is sending that we got to re passed resolution. frankly, i think extensions from -- i think that as tensions from russia and china is the best that we could have hoped for. >> do you think there will be military action from the west against colonel gaddafi forces? >> it does bring a point of tension within the resolution itself. the resolution talks about a cease-fire and protection of civilians

>> no, we are in the process of locating them. >> and there was a watch over b bengazi? >> it's a part of the no-fly zone and we want to watch that for 24 hours a day. >> have you expanded that? >> the no-fly zone will encompass all the way from tripli to bengazi, and south i don't guess but that's a good rule of thumb. >> how much territory westward of bengazi you feel is safe enough to fly the controls? >> we are enforcing, when you see us strike in tripli, and all the way to south of bengazi, that's where we are enforcing the no-fly zone. >> how much to be involved in the air strike? >> it's difficult to tell at this time, and we are on the leading edge of the coalition, and we will transition. and it's too difficult to predict and as countries come in and they take over the mission. >> days or weeks? >> i am not going to drive it to a timeline at this time. >> when you say transition to the rest of the coalition, what exactly does that mean? from one country or several? >> a coalition. our intent is to be a part of the coalition throughout. transfer the command to a

today pro gaddafi forces have circled bengazi as libyan war planes bombed bengazi's airport. lynnan state tv claims they intend to attack saturday. >> lawmakers in sacramento today continued their progress in trying to slash the deficit, cutting $7 billion yesterday, hoping to cut another $7 billion by day's end. lawmakers talked about fee increases for higher education. >> this means people goring to have to be paying more to go to community colleges but currently tax payers fund 90% of a community college ed oox we're trying to work towards budget balanced getting our fiscal house back in order so we can begin to reinvest in our educational system. >> tuesday, local teachers protested as school districts started to mail out 19,000 pink slips. many will be rescinded if state cuts don't go through. >> big wave surfers under shock after the death of a well known hawaiian surfer at mavericks near half moon bay. crews found the body alock th the -- along the san mateo coastline last night this, you tube video shows him surfing waves at mavericks. waves reached as high as 60 feet

the road toward bengazi seemed lightly defended as well. there is nothing the rebels with their light weapons can do to stop the gadaffi event. it may already be too late for anti-gadgadaffi forces. >> we don't have the weapons. >> reporter: this is the furthest point of advance. this town. the only evidence they were here is a shot up police station they had presumably occupied. the town itself is completely empty. the only sign of this conflict are some celebrating pro- gadaffi soldiers. these are trophy towns the regime is showing off. a libyan army spokesman said bangazi is next but that a major assault won't be needed. >> these are very limited people. >> reporter: but that's just what the people of bengazi fear. >> when gadaffi comes here, nobody will be left. all of them will be dead. >>> investigators looking into saturday's deadly tour bus crash are getting conflicting information as they try to figure out what caused the accident. 14 people were killed when the bus flipped over in new york city. it hit a light pole that nearly she

us in tripoli and we have an active counselor figure in been gauzy -- an active consular figure in bengazi. this is to make sure that humanitarian aid gets through. above all, as he said, any decision to put any men and women of armed forces in harm's way it should only be when aslan necessary. but i believe as he said that we cannot stand back and let a dictator kill his people indiscriminately. to do so would send a chilling signal to others. we should be clear about where our interests lie. in this country, we know that colonel gaddafi is capable of. we should not let him step onto british soil. we should not allow a situation their stateish stat should step on british soil. >> may i ask the prime minister whether, consistent with the un resolution, as he has indicated, refers will military measures to protect civilian- populated area? will he confirm that that will enable our forces to be used, not simply to intercept libyan aircraft, but if necessary to attack heavy artillery, tanks, and other military units on the ground that may be fattening civilian-populated areas? >> i think the

and we all noted with concern the decision of the red cross to withdraw from bengazi. -- benghazi? what about the return of humanitarian assistance -- assistance? we will give our full support to our armed forces. once again, they are engaging in dangerous and courageous acts on behalf of our country. we salute their professionalism and bravery. they are to uphold the will of the international community, including the united nations, and in that service, i believe they will have the support of the whole house. >> hear, her. -- hear. we have to do this in a time where this is effective. we need a transition towards a more open society and towards a better democracy. but we have to be clear about our aim. it the u.n. security resolution it is absolutely clear about saving lives and protecting people. it is not about choosing the government of libya. that is an issue for the libyan people. this is included in the u.n. security council resolution. this point but the international criminal court was covered by an earlier resolution. in terms of consultation with the arab league and coun

so government forces reportedly advance on the rebel held town of bengazi despite declaring a cease fire as colonel gadhafi brigades all close play you in no fly zone. world leaders meeting in paris agree to use all the necessary military means to stop any aggression from colonel gadhafi. frenchie across the ready to intervene against any threats on civilians join us later for the details. engine is locked in a desperate battle to avoid meltdown at japan's tsunami damaged fukushima nuclear power plant struggle to restore electricity. its totally cool existence could be functioning on some day small traces of radiation and now being protected in tokyo said. it with r.t. live from moscow the french military jets are already over libya to enforce the u.n. backed the no fly zone foreign leaders meeting in paris said they are ready to do whatever it takes to stop colonel gadhafi from targeting civilian areas reports from libya suggest that forces loyal to gadhafi are carrying out attacks on the rebel stronghold city of benghazi despite the government ceasefire. has more on this from the capit

almost the whole country and colonel gadhafi was doomed or he sucks on a boy when the opposition held bengazi to find out why these turned out to be exaggerations at best. of war in comprehensible as it sounds it's present in any conflict just days ago these parents feared for their children's lives today they're taking their pictures in front of the tanks the desire to be captured laughing in the face of danger is even stronger him of journalists and the conflict in libya is providing a perfect setting for it on t.v. screens in gaza may look like the center of the rebel resistance the country is waking to another day of chaos the forty year rule of quote of moammar gadhafi is now very much in jeopardy but in reality it's more like a seaside resort than a conflict zone hotels a fully booked with journalists and residents go about their daily lives here boys are looking for new things to play with toy guns are in ample supply. get some reports sent from been ghazi referred to fifty treason in eastern libya as war another conflict zone where rebels are engaged in sporadic and are slated pitch b

. >> the next phase is the no-fly zone ripolli to bengazi. it is an operation involving hundreds of air of the extra. the secretary of defense, robert gates, says within a matter of days, the u.s. will turnover primary responsibility for the operation. >> we will continue to support the coalition. we will be a member of the coalition and will have a role in the coalition, but not the pre-eminent role. >> they say qaddafi himself was not the target and say the international coalition is growing. abc news, washington. >>> in japan, officials are reporting progress tonight in the effort to gain control over a struggling nuclear power plant. two units at the fukushima plant have been cooled down, but pressure in a third unit's reactor unexpectedly surged today. radiation is leaking from the plant. the japanese government is advising people not to drink the tap water. meanwhile, crews found an 80-year-old woman and her teenage grandson nine days after they were buried under the rubble of their home. they were able to survive on food from their ref

the last major rebel outpost before bengazi. these pictures were film before forces retook the city on tuesday. the rebels paling in comparison to the forces deployed against them. it is stopping those forces that has proved elusive for the rebels and for the world's leaders. at the un, britain and france have been pushing for a no-fly zone. >> and establishment of a no-fly zone would have a deep effect on the gaddafi regime not to fly its airplanes to attack civilian area. >> while that may be the hope, countries like china and germany had expressed serious reservations. with the forces on the outskirts of the city, the window of opportunity for the un to act may have already closed. >> one day after troops from saudi arabia were invited in, bahrain has declared a state of emergency. thousands of demonstrators marched and two people died. >> this is the city of fear and barricades. this tiny kingdom was meant to host the grand prix this month. some neighborhoods it is impossible to drive to the end of the street. the saudi forc

and the people in the city of ben gay city -- bengazi cannot be more excited. this is how the celebration looked last night after they voted for the military action along with a no fly zone. it's one of the areas in libya not being controlled by libyan leader moammar gadhafi. secretary of state hillary clinton says implementing a no fly zone will declare air strikes against the country. the secretary of state also said any air strikes against libya would first be launched by british and french aircraft, nato forces could also be asked to help out. but according to clinton, ground forces are not being considered. >>> later today president obama will embark on a five-day trip to l.a. tin america. the president is scheduled -- latin america. he is taking the trip to focus on jobs and security concerns including drug violence. >>> a richmond church has lost its battle against foreclosure. bible way apostlistic church pastor sydney keys and four others were arrested for trespassing and rerising arrest after refusing to leave yesterday. the churches lender foreclosed

that government troops have regained control of the oil port of brega and are now pushing towards bengazi >> gaddafi's sources bombarded rebel positions in and around this key town. >> airplanes came and bombed people. look. a bomb landed there. we are civilians. we are not militants. >> pictures from libyan state television suggest things are back to normal, apparently retaken by government troops on sunday. but the rebels say a bitter battle is still being fought for the town and its oil terminal. britain and france have pushed for a no-fly zone. >> we're having technical difficulties, but let's just have a quick recap of the main developments for you at this hour. engineers are working around the clock to stabilize the situation at the fukushima nuclear power plant, but they say they cannot rule out a reactor meltdown, and an explosion occurred at reactor number three earlier on monday. however, authorities say the core container remains intact. >> nuclear fuel rods in the reactor unit number two have been reexposed. the rescue operation on japan's northeast coast continues, and the po

but what happened probably saved bengazi in the least, and it handed that most crucial of things to thepposition, momentum. today the debris has become a site for war tourism. families flock out of the city to revel in the wreckage. jubilant and optimistic not just that they are safe, but they have some very powerful friends on their side. >> this road is littered with debris like this. a number of tanks and military vehicles have been hit we believe by french fighter jets operating in the early start of this no-fly zone. of course this gives succor to the rebels and the revolutionary council. but the truth is that gaddafi's forces have not gone away. >> there were reports that colonel gaddafi's forces were retreating. they hadn't. and listen to what happened next. a tang round whistles past, fired by government troops. there was chaos and panic as the militia turned and fled. a number were injured, some killed. this is what colonel gaddafi's cease-fire looks like in the east. and this rag-tag army of the rebellion looks like a poor match even with the help of the west. the vision of a

. >>> unknown fighters brought down a war plane over the capitol of bengazi this morning. this is believed to be a libyan jet that went down. leader moammar gadhafi said that libya will defend itself from "crusadeer aggression." they welcomed the international support after what they considered to be a long wait. >>> anti-war activists marked the 8th anniversary of the u.s.- led war in iraq by protesting. they are also critical of the u.s. military action in libya. >> reporter: heather, u.s. plaza is quiet today but today there were 1,000 protestors a large crowd considering the cold rain and wind. on the 8th anniversary of the american war in iraq the political protestors rallied at u.n.'s plaza. >> thank you for your solidarity of support with the people of iraq. >> reporter: they were demanding that troops be brought home from countries such as iraq and afghanistan. the group is called answer for act now to stop war and end racism. >> this does not begin outside of ourselves. passengers begins within our own hearts. >> like many in the crowds this teacher who brought so

harder and presumably either that or if things really get bad in the sense that khadafi moves toward bengazi they may have to leave the country but i think the issue now particularly here in washington is what is washington and other countries going to do about that are the french move would appear to suggest that the french and any of them possibly encourage the british and the americans one to safeguard benghazi. i think it's very possible that you may see the establishment essentially of two regimes in libya and military steps to ensure the security that because the regime does the french. foreign intervention is one step closer military invasion i'm thinking about. well i don't think invasion is anything anyone in certainly in the united states wants to see. i think there are a range of ups and options which have been raised both in the congress and certainly within the administration among them no fly zone and large shipments and protective shipments of humanitarian and other aid possibly even some military support i would assume that would be of a nonlethal nature. at least initially a

they make up a fifth of jihadist it's enough to say that one of the rebel leaders the northeast the bengazi was once osama bin laden's personal driver the question here is whether the u.s. is going to end up putting weapons in the hands of radicals and destabilizing the region even more well you know discuss the possibility of a foreign intervention in libya with culshaw who's a writer and commentator in the goodness in london also as the director of middle east projects at george mason university. i don't think military intervention on the ground would be a good idea at this moment and neither he or the those who are fighting against position would agree that call have been from a position. of his doing and for. themselves at the moment that. should have a failure in the international community before intervening doesn't mean that we have to give up and the international community completely just because they are in other places it doesn't mean we have to give up it means we have to change the way intervention and troops there is changing the way of intervention we now coming in the intern

increasingly more here that the japanese names are making advantages with the ultimate destination of bengazi in mind there are also growing concerns among those rebel groups of gadhafi steepest cells these are men who are armed they are keeping a low profile and the fear is that when they feel there is not a sizable presence of gadhafi soldiers in a town they will come to the front and it will take to the streets and fights the international community at the moment is meeting in paris the usa controlled state hillary clinton is holding discussions with the leadership of the opposition here in libya they're expected to reach some decision of an international response to what is happening here in libya the question over a no fly zone whether or not they'll give the green light to this but certainly the feeling is growing that strong's has acted prematurely by recognizing the libyan opposition as the legitimate voice of this country particularly when you steve they conduct these forces are making advances on the ground it raises questions in terms of if gadhafi had to remain in power how would

name it they're all there everybody's i'm part two and we've recently seen a diplomatic mission to bengazi its hands in the capture of n.s.a.'s team is the u.k. actively trying to engage with the rebels i hope so i mean don't ask me too much about that inner circle i think it's rather embarrassing i don't think we british diplomacy at its best to be frank to the british media as well but yes we should be talking to the rebels i think it's. it's a difficult thing to do it's not unique i mean it could be plenty of situations indeed it's in a way paolo the situation in afghanistan i wish i could be talking to people who are fighting against libya we cannot fight it for the money but we should be talking to the different parties we are talking to get our fish people william hague said the other day that you personally was on the telephone to mr couso the libyan foreign minister who was one of the that have his closest supporters. and i think we've also got to reach out to the others it's difficult thing through firstly because tripoli wouldn't want us to do it unfortunately although for smokin

rebel groups we are hearing from gadhafi is known that they are making their way there and win game bengazi force to quote him any kind of disruptions and all the kinds of fighting that we've witnessed over the past month will come to an end here in tripoli the situation remains calm and quiet people here have accused the international community and the foreign media there feeds it of being alarmist they say that they had exaggerated the situation let's take a look there's a lot more haggling on the international stage of the merits of intervention and a no fly zone and the bargaining taking place in downtown tripoli market shops here close early in our days people are afraid and many of the africans who used to work here have fled the country but the argument is that libya is on the brink of civil war so foreign intervention is needed still seems to ring a little hollow several hundred people killed but that's not a huge level of violence it certainly isn't a global level of violence that would normally merit intervention gadhafi has offered access to foreign media but only if the camera l

leaving and then if you look at the other towns like agita here which is the next main town after bengazi there rebel fighters have been able to advance for more than a week they are now literally waiting this fight out on the perimeter and hoping that it after his forces will run out of supplies and at that stage they'll be able to actually make a difference so the word from rebels on the ground is that they want more airstrikes they're actually calling for more weapons and i think among them there's even the hope that they could be grand forces eventually same tin and again people are revisiting that u.n. resolution that talks about all necessary measures to bring the fighting on the ground to an end the war in questions those are that if the international community needs to get further involved in terms of the fight on the ground at the moment it's happening in urban areas so that does run the risk of there being more casualties the other worrying factor of course is also the fact that despite these airstrikes there's been no political or military recruiting into duffy's position and d

many are lost as to how to achieve that authorities it's on a boy call who is in a rebel controlled bengazi reports a lack of control over the country could have devastating a long term effect. after the liberation chance the rattle of kalashnikovs is the most common sound in ghazi ever since rebels seized weapons depots in eastern libya rifles became the ultimate symbol of masculinity that every young man in this city once one thing in common between more market are free and of course the struggling chancy it here is a fascination with arms believe in leader a developed a l liking for kalashnikov rifles so much so that he even had the end of a k forty seven and munition plant built here in libya that runs lease plant produced an hour telling all across eastern libya on the frontlines and beyond young man with rifles have become a fixture on the streets of the ghazi they're eager to show them off and often slap happy in their handling of the arms. a soldier from the bin gassy garrison who joined there freising says many of his fellow rebels don't have any experience with arms as he says is

of tactics possibly in response to the resolution the latest word now is that they will not attack bengazi but rather that the forces will encircled the city were coming out from the gadhafi regime that they don't want to attack the city but they simply want to bring it back into their control people are asking the question what exactly does a no. sligh is so mean if you look at the resolution it talks about they weren't necessary measures to be taken she could take civilians so many are asking what all this is so we can measure as you need to remember that five countries did at same including russia we also now are hearing from turkey they all against the european countries not to vote in the favor also to abstain of course was germany the russian ambassador to the united nations had this to say in terms of a lot of the concerns by many in the international community. in the desert in essence a whole range of questions raised by the russian federation and other security council members. questions which were both concrete and legitimate questions regarding how the no fly zone would be enfo

to have a more extravagant wardrobe there is also a downside has emerged from libya which is the bengazi down oh the gauzy downs fantastic the. more of a trance music apparently of the crowd is all their hands and they've slowed it down really slow so everybody does the benghazi dance. it's freedom i can see no. but i bring up benghazi and i wanted to show you this little screen grab from the television where we're watching here and it was you know the crowds in benghazi and this sign in particular this placard really stood out for me no autocracy no despotism no nepotism no cronyism and that is universal and that is what you are calling the global insurrection against banker occupation it's the same thing it's a desk but despots running our banking system or despots running the middle east oil you know those are for t.v. phrases all tied into one placard in the crowd these four key are the pushback against the corruption that's within every fiber of the law occupation of iraq bankers you know we have just as much in the west but there's very little resistance and one a common phrase in

pro-government sources encircled the eastern city of bengazi.libyan war planes went into deeper held territory today, state tv claims they plan plan to attack saturday. >> three men were formerly charged with a hate crime attack. two mexican nationals beaten, one horribly that. sort of race-based violence is rare in san francisco. but police say it's happening more often now. >> three men accused of the hate crime attack. >> there is information which links them to white supremacist groups. >> both victims are mexican nationals attacked in front of this bar just before midnight november 10th. saying one was beaten unconscious. >> surrounded by five individual who's punched and kicked them putting boots to him. >> he says he heard assailants yell "white power". today, they helped bring back one victim returning to mexico after the attack. he's agreed to testify. >> we are working together with the da. >> he says this city sex peer yensing something uncharacteristic. >> we're standing up to activity of people that associated with white supremacist

as human shields against any possible coalition strikes this is in stark contrast to the town of bengazi which was the focal point of fighting for much of the past few days and weeks that is the rebel stronghold in the east but rebels there is saying that they now are leaving the town advancing resorts and trying to recapture some of the towns and cities that they lost in fighting all of there's been some confusion to. what's of the latest reports from our. well nothing's been heard from gadhafi himself since sunday when he gave a fifteen minute address to libyan state television he did not appear on camera but he was very defiant in that it was saying that he would not step down and again calling this international response illegitimate we are hearing from coalition forces there could be himself is not the target this is despite the fact that they hit his compound on sunday night here on the ground there's a growing confusion in terms of what is the end game of this international operation the rebels are in. creasing lee calling for some kind of a card but as they move westward as they

rebels lost a vital source of fuel for their vehicles and puts the military less than 150 miles from bengazi>> a date set for a second hearing for hikers accused of spying. the justice department says it will be held may 11th and likely take place behind closed doors. jane bauer, josh patal and sarah shourd have been charged with espionage. two pleaded not guilty in the first hearing. shored was released on bail back here last september in the bay area. she pleaded not guilty. >> state department spokesman p. j. crowley is out of a job after criticizing the handling of the wikileaks case. he said it was ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid. manning is held in solitary confinement and stripped naked each night before bed. he said manning's attention is appropriate. he submitted his resignation to secretary of state hillary clinton. >> you have three extra days to file your taxes this year. the deadline is april 18th but if you want to get free help early, "7 on your side" will hold a tax hotline today from 5:00 to 8 p.m.. we'll have a live online pack chat. send your questions to abc7news

we have seen people go into bengazi and we have a much better sense of what is happening in the east. and in the west, where people are crossing into tunisia, we are hearing concerns about the violence, concerns about supplies running out, particularly fuel. in terms of the security situation and what kind of materials can we get into the country, medical supplies have gone in through the east to bengazzi and w.h.o. have managed to gain access and organizations like islamic relief and other u.n. organizations who are operating in the border area. they have been extremely active on the border with tunisia. one organization is setting up a transit camp. but we need to understand what is happening in country and this is one of the things that we are trying to resolve in the next day or so. >> we are running out of time. could you both please ask your questions and to matthew first and then ms. amos can answer. sounded like aid is coming in by land. france said it will fly in supplies. is that possible? what do you think about a no-fly zone and whether it would be -- in order to ensure th

that government troops have regained control of the oil port of brega and are now pushing towards bengazi. >> gaddafi's sources bombarded rebel positions in and around this key town. >> airplanes came and bombed people. look. a bomb landed there. we are civilians. we are not militants. >> pictures from libyan state television suggest things are back to normal, apparently retaken by government troops on sunday. but the rebels say a bitter battle is still being fought for the town and its oil terminal. britain and france have pushed for a no-fly zone. >> we're having technical difficulties, but let's just have a quick recap of the main developments for you at this hour. engineers are working around the clock to stabilize the situation at the fukushima nuclear power plant, but they say they cannot rule out a reactor meltdown, and an explosion occurred at reactor number three earlier on monday. however, authorities say the core container remains intact. >> nuclear fuel rods in the reactor unit number two have been reexposed. the rescue operation on japan's northeast coast continues, and the p

gadhafi diplomatically but everything changed on tuesday as gadhafi forces pushed rebel stronghold bengazi the president told his national security team what we are doing isn't stopping him. tuesday night the president met with defense secretary gates and other military officials over dinner. and he later instructed his national security team to broaden the united nations resolution to allow for more military might. not just targeting lybian fighter jet but also tank on the ground. all the while saying this must be an international airport. >> we will continue to work with our partner in the international community to press gadhafi to the leave. >>reporter: french and british expected to play a lead role in airstrikes and u.s. secured the commitment of arab nation uae and cutter to deploy jets. at the un it was the arab nation of lebanon that introduced not fly zone resolution. still the u.s. will play the essential role. >> we'll provide the unique capability we can bring to bear to stop violence against civilians including enabling our partner to effectively enforce a no fly zone. offici

bearing down on the city of bengazi hope to nearly 700,000 men, children and women who sought their freedomrom fear. >>> the president said if the u.s. did not act it would have stained the world's conscious and been a betrayal of who we are. he also said that nato will take command over the operation on wednesday. >>> the president said that he ruled out targeting moammar gadhafi. he warned that trying to oust him would be a costly mistake. phil matier joins us now with more on the president's primetime address. phil? >> reporter: that's right, ken. the president did not estimate when the conflict might end, however. plus there were a few things he didn't mention. for example, he didn't talk about the cost. and did he not rule out similar action like this in the future elsewhere. >> i've made it clear that i will never hesitate to use our military swiftly, decisively and unilaterally when necessary to end defend our people, our homeland, our allies and our core interests. >> reporter: well, just what those interests are is a matter of debate. the president's speech got a ex manied reaction

. >> reporter: for "this week," lama hasan, bengazi, libya. >> and the big question, how much will the of the middle east shape their democracy. much of the world is looking at this closely. tina brown is joining us. she's hosting a women of the world summit this week. some of the women are joining us now. dr. nawal el saadawi, zainab salbi, the iraqi founder of women for women international. and sttd sttd, t and sussan tahmadebi, who has been at the forefront of women's rights. thank you for joins us. when you look at that piece, do you think gains are solidified? and set in stone? >> no. i get emotional to see that women are rising up and joining men this the streets. i remember history where women did participate earlier on. we have that history. against the shah of iran for one. we have that history. but it often gets hijacked at the moment of fair victory. we often get sent back home. >> let's discuss that. tina, you're going to show us the new cover of "newsweek" it's about 150 women who shake the world with hillary clinton as the cover. what can someone like the u.s. secretary o

>> we should recognize the opposition government as bengazi and tell gaddafi at least we may not be ableo remove him from part of the country he controls but we will not let him slaughter people and take control of the country. if he takes control of the country he'll restart terror activity and possibly restart nuclear program. it's unacceptable. the president of the united states has said gaddafi must go. how can you say that, say gaddafi must go, and then do nothing about it? it would be a horrible defeat, setback elsewhere in the middle east and a disaster have him back in charge. not just a humanitarian disaster, but a national strategic disaster have him back in charge of libya. >> chris: less than a minute left. what does happen if gaddafi holds on the power and then slowly, brutally grinds down the rebels? what is the impact on the president and his president to appeal to the arab street? >> impact is quite severe and striking. he is already on a little thin ice, but more importantly, they do not -- he is going to follow the advice or judgment of defense secretary gates. they can

. >> reporter: if you say they do love you, then why are they capturing bengazi -- >> it is al qaeda,qaeda, not my people. al qaeda, yes. >> now, he laughed off the idea that he would ever leave libya, asking why would i leave my homeland? >>> in washington, u.s. ambassador to the united nations says gadhafi's comments seem, quote, delusional and some strong reaction among the opposition forces in libya who have taken over the city of benghazi. alex marquardt reports. >> reporter: this is hatred for gadhafi. the react to the interview with christiane amanpour ranged from disbelief to fury. >> everybody, even he lies, he knows he's lying and he knows people listening to him are aware he's lying. >> reporter: as for his claim that no force has been used, this man had evidence to the contrary. and like many here he showed us pictures of the dead far too graphic to show on television. >> he's a killer. believe me. >> he is the terrorist. we're looking for freedom and we're free the last, free at last! >> reporter: in a cafe, young libyans watched the news unfolding in their country. they

had we not taken action in libya, bengazi would now be remembered in the same breath as seveneza. libyan refugees would now be streaming into egypt, destabilizing those countries during their already daunting political transitions. if we had allowed qadhafi to slaughter arabs and muslims who were lead -- pleading the u.s. to help them. al qaeda would have exploited the resulting chaos and hopelessness. the forces of counterrevolution in the region would have gotten the message that the world would tolerate the violent oppression of peaceful demonstrations for universal rights. this would have been a dramatic setback for the arab spring, which represents the most consequential geopolitical opportunity in centuries. that's why libya matters. why we were right to intervene. yes, there are many other places in the world where evil resides, where monsters brutalize civilians. the united states cannot and should not intervene in all of these places. but we were right to do so in libya because of the unique position that this country now occupies at a moment of historic change in the mid

we have been monitoring be troubling reports of fighting around and within bengazi. as president obama also said, we have every reason to fear that, if left unchecked, gaddafi will commit unspeakable atrocities. nations across the region and the world met today in paris to discuss the ways we can, working together, to implement resolution 1973. we all recognize that for the delay will only put more civilians at risk. let me be clear about the position of the united states. we will support an international coalition as it takes all necessary measures to enforce the terms of resolution 1973. as you may know, french planes are already in the sky above benghazi. america has unique capabilities and we will bring them to bear to help our european and arab partners to stop further violence against arab civilians, including the effective implementation of a no-fly zone. as president obama said, the united states will not employ ground troops. there must be no mistake in our commitment to this effort. we will conduct smaller focused conversations with many of my colleagues. i

had we not taken action in libya, bengazi would now be remembered in the same breath as seveneza. libyan refugees would now be streaming into egypt, destabilizing those countries during their already daunting political transitions. if we had allowed qadhafi to slaughter arabs and muslims who were lead -- pleading the u.s. to help them. al qaeda would have exploited the resulting chaos and hopelessness. the forces of counterrevolution in the region would have gotten the message that the world would tolerate the violent oppression of peaceful demonstrations for universal rights. this would have been a dramatic setback for the arab spring, which represents the most consequential geopolitical opportunity in centuries. that's why libya matters. why we were right to intervene. yes, there are many other places in the world where evil resides, where monsters brutalize civilians. the united states cannot and should not intervene in all of these places. but we were right to do so in libya because of the unique position that this country now occupies at a moment of historic change in the mid