20110319 reuters
PARIS (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Western air forces, with Arab League approval, had gone into action on Saturday over Libya and were preventing Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacking the rebel city of Benghazi.
"As of now, our planes are preventing air attacks on the city of Benghazi," he said adding that military action supported by France, Britain, the United States and Canada and backed by Arab nations could be halted if Gaddafi stopped his forces attacking. French planes were also ready to strike Libyan tanks.
"It's a grave decision we've had to take," Sarkozy said after meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other leaders in Paris.
"Along with our Arab, European and North American partners, France has decided to play its part before history."
Sarkozy said of the meeting: "Those taking part agreed to put in place all necessary means, especially military, to enforce the decisions of the United Nations Security Council.
"This is why, in agreement with our partners, our air forces will counter any aggression by Colonel Gaddafi's aircraft against the population of Benghazi," he said.
"As of now, other French aircraft are ready to intervene against armoured vehicles which threaten unarmed civilians."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who opposes military action, was also present and said afterwards that Berlin also agreed that violence in Libya must end.
Sarkozy, briefing reporters but taking no questions, said: "Colonel Gaddafi has scorned our warnings. In the past few hours his forces have intensified their murderous offensive."
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