Gaddafi planned to kill civilians, court says

THE International Criminal Court has evidence that Muammar Gaddafi’s government planned to put down protests by killing civilians before the uprising in Libya broke out, the ICC’s prosecutor has said.

Protests against the government that began on February 15 swiftly descended into civil war after Gaddafi’s forces opened fire on demonstrators. He then put down uprisings in Libya’s west, leaving the east and the city of Misrata in rebel hands.

NATO-led air power is now holding the balance in Libya, preventing Gaddafi’s forces from overrunning the seven-week-old revolt, but unable for now to hand the rebels outright victory.