supplies must be turned on to all areas. humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach the people of libya. yesterday, president obama said clearlyy, that if al-gaddafi failed to comply with these terps, there would be consequences. since the president spoke, there is some talk from tripoli of a cease fire, but the reality on the ground tells a very different story. colorado colonel al-gaddafi continue to defy the world. his attacks on civilians go on. today we are monitoring the troubling reports of fighting and aroundd and within benghazi itself. as president obama also said, we have ever reason to fear that left unchecked al-gaddafi will commit unspeakable atrocities. it is against that back drop, that nations from across the
government said on live television they had troops and tanks staged outside of benghazi. they said they would observe the seize fire. residents know that al-gaddafi lied to them in the past and not surprised he lide again and his troops advancod the city. this gas station is packed with vehicles as people gas up on the way out of town. it is a pretty raucus crowd and a lot of gunfire and here it is cell braatory gunfire and not trying to wage an attack. we are significantly east of benghazi. thank you, rick. we are waiting to hear from hillary clinton who will be speaking in a moment and joinning us in the studio to talk about the situation that is developing in libya. former libya ambassador to the u.s.. thank you for joining us and you are watching the developments as they unfolded in the last 24 hours and you
a cease fire despite the rhetoric. several of the speakers around the table said forcefully they have heard the word and heard them publicly and conveyed privately and they are not true . i think our asissment is that it is time for the international community to take action to back up resolution 1973. the goal of the operation, is it to protect civilians or is it to remove president al-gaddafi from power. it is to protect civilians and to provide acess for humanitarian assistance. if you read very comprehensive rez lusionn that the security council passed, it is focused on protecting civilians from their own government.
neighborhood in southern benghazi. that jet exploded in a ball of fire. there was a number of fires burning in benghazi this morning and many of the million residents who hadn t already left, left after the fighting began. the road behind me was choked with cars throughout the day. residents and little children and some of them leaving benghazi because of the violence. but we heard a lot of selabraatory gunfire and victory signs and rebel fighters heading in the other direction and saying they were not giving up the battle and they would retake benghazi . the last word we had was that al-gaddafi s tanks and troops may have with drawn back to where they came from south of the city. where they are repositioning for another strike remains to be seen. there are french aircraft and reconplanes patrolling the skies over libya and fighter jets ready to strike targets
on the ground. uma? we are waiting to hear from secretary of state hillary clinton. setet scene of what is going on behind you. you talk about the long gas lines. are people panicking after what just happened in benghazi there and what are they saying to you at this moment? well, i hadn t seen a traffic gym sal in a week. but this morning we did. many vehicles flood the one open highway. the coastal road oust benghazi to the east. i wouldn t call it panic, but people knew it was time to get out. that is not to say they will not go back and many of them will go back in the city when it is safe to do so. they were upset al-gaddafi s troops advanced in the opposition stronghold but not surprised because they know that al-gaddafi had said one thing is come done another throughoutt the campaign . last night al-gaddafi s