New 'ceasefire' as jets zero in

Libya announced another ceasefire tonight as the country braced itself for a second night’s bombardment by allied forces.

The order – preceded by a barrage of anti-aircraft fire from the capital Tripoli – was issued in the name of the Libyan government and armed forces, rather than dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

A government spokesman in Tripoli said: “We, the Popular Social Leadership of Libya, recommend to the armed forces to announce an immediate ceasefire to all military units.”

The announcement was followed by an order from the armed forces that the ceasefire would be effective from 9pm local time (7pm GMT).

A ceasefire announced by the Libyan government on Friday was apparently breached within a few hours.

Coalition forces took part in a devastating assault last night on Libya’s air defences, which saw 112 Tomahawk missiles fired from US ships and a Royal Navy submarine, followed by a pre-dawn raid by RAF Tornados and US stealth bombers.

The UK Ministry of Defence declared itself “entirely comfortable” with the success of the raid, while US senior military officer Admiral Mike Mullen said that a no-fly zone was now effectively in place over the north African state.

US officials indicated that further operations would take place, and several RAF Typhoons arrived today from Coningsby in Lincolnshire to the Gioia del Colle airbase in southern Italy, to have easier access to targets in Libya.

Meanwhile, French sources said that four Qatari planes were joining its jets in patrolling the no-fly zone. The participation of the Arab state’s forces would be a significant indication that the operation to enforce United Nations resolution 1973 is not simply a Western campaign, as Gaddafi has claimed.

There were signs of unease in the Arab world over the scale and nature of yesterday’s attacks, which also included direct air strikes by French Mirage and Rafale jets on Gaddafi’s tanks outside Benghazi.

The Arab League’s Secretary General Amr Mussa appeared to suggest allied forces had gone beyond the measures to protect civilians called for by his organisation last weekend and authorised by Thursday’s UN resolution.

“What has happened in Libya differs from the goal of imposing a no-fly zone,” Mr Mussa was reported as saying.

“What we want is the protection of civilians and not bombing other civilians.”

Responding to Mr Mussa’s reported comments, a UK Foreign Office spokesman said: “Unlike Gaddafi, the coalition is not attacking civilians. The UN resolution authorises all necessary measures to protect the Libyan people.

“For the no-fly zone to be enforced safely, it is necessary to carry out carefully targeted operations against Libyan air defence capabilities.

“All missions are meticulously planned to ensure every care is taken to avoid civilian casualties. We will continue to work with our Arab partners to enforce the resolution for the good of the Libyan people.”

Libyan state TV claimed that 48 civilians were killed and 150 wounded in last night’s actions, which were denounced as terrorism by Gaddafi, who vowed to fight a long war “with unlimited patience and deep faith”.

He said arms depots were being thrown open to arm the people to defend themselves against what state TV termed “the crusader enemy”.

Meanwhile, Russia – which abstained in Thursday’s Security Council vote - called on all involved in the Libyan conflict “to halt the indiscriminate use of force”.

And Pope Benedict XVI used his regular Sunday blessing in the Vatican City to appeal “to those who have the political and military responsibility to take to heart the safety and security of citizens”.

Some 15 French jets took to the skies over Libya today, but encountered no resistance from ground or air.