Al-Hayat

A plane of the U. of Air Force fighter crashed S. in Libya after experiencing an equipment malfunction, but the two crew members ejected safely and are now out of Libya and in the hands of the United States Army U.S. and a senior defense official in the United States said on Tuesday.

A pilot and weapons officer aboard an F-15E Strike Eagle had flown from Aviano Air Base in Italy to Libya when the problems with combat experience, the U.S. military command for Africa, said in a statement. Both pilots ejected, the statement said.

The pilot and weapons officer suffered minor injuries, but landed in Libya, the military said.

A U.S. military plane took the pilot, a senior defense official said. Libya rebels recovered the second crew member and “took him” until the coalition forces “may seek” said the official.

Both crew members are in Libya, the official said.

Jet is based in the Royal Air Force base at Lakenheath, England. He flew to Libya as part of a coalition attack on the antiaircraft forces objective is to protect civilians in this country of Libya. The action was approved by the Security Council of UN.

The accident was not caused by enemy or hostile actions, “said Kenneth Fidler, a spokesman for the U.S. Africa Command.

It came after a U.S. official said an international mission to weaken the force of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has stopped the momentum sovereign. But criticism and questions about the operation continues, without a clear answer as to who should assume command of the military operation and that the goal of the game or exit strategy is.

Missiles and antiaircraft fire pierced the night sky in Tripoli hours before dawn Tuesday, the fourth day of the multinational effort to protect civilians against attacks by pro-Gaddafi.

The United States fired 20 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Libya in the last 12 hours, a military spokesman said last week. A total of 159 Tomahawk missiles were launched by the U.S. and the UK since the operation began on Saturday Dawn Odyssey. The mission includes the enforcement of a no-fly zone.

Commander. Monica Rousselow also said that one of three U.S. submarines who participated in the start of the operation, has left the area. She refused to say what the submarine.

International action aimed at air defense sites and command centers. But the same Gaddafi has not been targeted, and there are no plans to kill the leader, “said General Carter Ham, director of U.S. troops in Africa.

“I could see the fulfillment of the military mission, which was attributed to me, and the current leader would still be the current leader,” he said.

“We believe we have been very effective in degrading its ability to manage the forces of his regime.”

Ham said there was no Libyan plane flying from the beginning of military operations on Saturday. And the air strikes stopped Libyan ground forces to approach the rebel stronghold east of Benghazi.

Violence has raged in Libya after protests demanding democracy and calling for an end of the Gaddafi regime nearly 42 years long. The protesters were met by the force of the Gaddafi regime, and many world leaders – including Secretary General Ban Ki-moon – has condemned the killings of civilians by troops Gaddafi.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Thursday that the Member States to “take all necessary measures to protect civilians threatened to invade the country … but without a foreign occupation force, in any form any part of the Libyan territory. ” It also sets no-fly zone.

Barf Barak, a researcher at the New America Foundation, said: “It is certain” that the allied coalition has thwarted the assault troops against the rebels Gaddafi in eastern Libya.

“Before the UN decision was made Thursday, it appeared that Gaddafi was overrun by the opposition in a matter of days,” he said.

But “it is unclear whether the rebels can form any form of organized control and move forward now that the air attacks have removed the offensive possibilities of Gaddafi,” said Tuesday Barf. “It is not known at present, which would take control after Kadhafi leaves. We know that there really is no state institutions in Libya.”

Gaddafi – who has not spoken publicly since he promised a “long war” with the “new Nazis” on Sunday – have announced a ceasefire. But blood Misrata Monday showed a very different reality according to a spokesman for the opposition.

Spokesperson, Mohamed – who would not give his last name because of concerns for his safety – said Monday the destruction in the city center was “inconceivable” and that Misrata was bombed heavily during the last four days by Forces loyal to Qadhafi.

“He keeps talking about a ceasefire, but he did not notice that in a minute here,” said Mohamed.

Based on what he saw in a hospital, said Mohammed died on Monday among civilians in the hands of the pro-Gaddafi was 15. In addition, 51 civilians died in attacks weekend by the pro-Gaddafi, Mohamed said.

Gaddafi’s opponents have expressed gratitude to foreign intervention. Anti-Gaddafi said the residents of Benghazi supporter of the troops would be killed if they could get into town.

The international military coalition focused Monday on extending the no-fly zone of Al-Brega, Misrata, then to Tripoli, a distance of about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles).

The air forces of France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Britain have carried out missions to maintain a no-fly zone over Benghazi, “said Ham.

Canadian and Belgian forces have joined the coalition forces on Monday, he said, and aircraft carriers in Italy and France have added “significant capacity” in the region.

United Arab Emirates is ready to send two teams to participate in international efforts, “said Major General (Staff) Pilot Khaled Abdullah Al-Buainnain – a former air force commander of the Emirates’ and air defense. He said, however, these plans have changed criticism of the United States and the European Union, Gulf Cooperation Council of the troops to help stabilize the monarchy in Bahrain.

United Arab Emirates has decided to be the military’s role in the country until Washington and the European Union to clarify its position on the use of troops in Bahrain, but also contributes to humanitarian efforts in Libya Al-Buainnain said.

About 80 departures were taken Monday – more than half of them by the air forces representing countries other than the United States, “said Ham.

But support for the attack has not been universal. The Russian government has declared that the mission has killed innocent civilians and urged more caution. India, China and Venezuela have also spoken out against aerial attacks.

The Libyan government said this weekend, 48 people – mostly women, children and clergy – have died in Allied attacks.

U.S. Admiral Bill Gortney, however, said there was no evidence of civilian casualties. And France – who led the first strike in Libya on Saturday when warplanes fired on a military vehicle – also questioned the claims of civilian deaths.

U.S. said it wanted to give the leadership of the military operation in the coming days. But it is unclear who will take the reins.

The alliance would command the NATO no-fly role in Libya, but some Arab countries are reluctant to fly under the banner of NATO – and that has delayed the move, said one official who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity negotiations.

“NATO has the ability to make a quick transition,” the official said. “The problem is that they must do everything by consensus.”

If Arab countries have not signed on a NATO mission that would be another option could be to create an ad-hoc command structure part and control part, the defense official said. But, he said, would take time.