Calling an impromptu press conference at the Auberge de Castille yesterday afternoon, a day after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted in favour of a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi reiterated as he has done over the past three weeks that “Malta will not act as a military base”.

Malta will fulfil its obligations as part of the United Nations (UN), but in no way will the island become a temporary military base, insisted Dr Gonzi, adding that the island is not obliged to do so.

Moreover, no requests have been made for the island to act as a military base, said the Prime Minister, and commented that “neither do I predict that we will be required to act as a military base in the future”.

He also pointed out that there are other alternatives and options for Malta to help the Libyan people than to serve as a military base at the request of other countries.

The “absolute priority” of the government, Dr Gonzi said, was to maintain Malta’s security and ascertain the safety of its citizens.

“Malta’s role in the Libyan crisis is purely humanitarian, which is why we have assisted and helped to evacuate almost 16,000 people, of around 100 nationalities, from Libya over the past few weeks.

“As I am speaking, news has just reached us that the last remaining Maltese, who had originally opted to stay in Libya despite the crisis, are now on their way back to their homeland, as the violence in the north African country is escalating.

“Malta has also played a small part in providing assistance to approximately 250,000 people, who fled to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders as the violence among pro- and anti-government protesters intensified,” Dr Gonzi said.

He stated that earlier in the day, he received a call from the Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi, who told him that the Libyan government had just announced an immediate ceasefire and would be stopping all military operations.

Although stopping short of revealing the purpose behind the Libyan Prime Minister’s phone call, a Libyan source was reported to have told the BBC later that the Libyan government has asked the Turkish and Maltese authorities to help implement, and supervise, the ceasefire. However in a statement, the Maltese government denied that there was a request by the Libyan government to supervise and implement a ceasefire.

Dr Gonzi said he told Prime Minister Baghdadi to back-up the statement over the immediate ceasefire, “because the Libyan government has shown a lack of credibility over the past few weeks. Furthermore, I told him that the Libyan government must withdraw the heavy weaponry it is using on its own people”.

He said that Malta has received no threats for taking the EU and UN’s stances on Libya, despite the islands’ long-standing relations with Libya, and concluded by mentioning that Malta has not asked for any assistance from any country in the event that an attack from Libya is launched on Malta.

Following Dr Gonzi’s press conference, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat released a statement commenting that he is also against the idea of Malta serving as a military base, although it should adhere to the resolutions of the UNSC.

‘Malta might have to act as a military base’

Speaking to this newspaper before Dr Gonzi’s conference, Ibrahim Dabashi, the Libyan deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), commented that “Malta and Cyprus might have to act as a temporary military base as part of the international community’s efforts to oust Libyan leader Col Gaddafi and restore peace in Libya”.

He added that Malta and neighbouring Mediterranean countries should participate in anyway they can to ascertain the return of a democratic Libya, “to the benefit of the whole Mediterranean region”.

Last Thursday’s vote authorises member states to “take all necessary measures” to “protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack”, in particular Benghazi, the rebel stronghold in the east of the country, which is mentioned by name.

It also calls for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the violence, to make it more difficult for foreign mercenaries to get into Libya and a tightening of sanctions.

The resolution would permit air strikes on Libyan ground troops or allow attacks on Libyan war ships if they were attacking civilians.

Speaking over the telephone, Mr Dabashi said, however, that despite the latest pressure, he did not expect Col Gaddafi to step down immediately.

“Col Gaddafi is a man consumed by power and greed. We cannot expect him to step down immediately.

After the UNSC voted to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, which was expected to come into immediate effect yesterday, Libya’s Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa declared early yesterday afternoon an immediate ceasefire and announced the government is stopping all military operations.

Yesterday’s decision comes after the UN voted to authorise a no-fly zone and take “all necessary measures” to protect the Libyan people, including airstrikes.

Mr Koussa said the ceasefire “will take the country back to safety” and ensure security for all Libyans.

However, he also criticised the authorisation of international military action, calling it a violation of Libya’s sovereignty.

Mr Dabashi expressed caution over the Libyan Foreign Minister’s words.

“I’m sure Col Gaddafi is doing all he can to prevent anti-government demonstrators from continuing with their protests, and I think that before the final details of the no-fly zone were sorted, the Libyan leader tried to make the most of the little time left to attack as many people as he could,” Mr Dabashi said.

Some of yesterday’s headlines in the foreign news agency the Associated Press appeared to back-up Mr Dabashi’s comments, with reporters in Libya saying that government forces fiercely bombarded the last rebel-held western town of Misurata.

A doctor said at least six people were killed yesterday when tanks moved into Misurata and opened fire. He says a hospital and a mosque were shelled.

The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals, said the tanks then pulled back to the outskirts of the city.

Misurata, Libya’s third-largest city, 125 miles southeast of Tripoli, has been sealed off by Col Gaddafi’s troops in a blockade that has cut off most water and food supplies for days.

While three air strikes were reported on the outskirts of Benghazi on Thursday, including at the airport, as well as another air raid further south, Col Gaddafi’s troops have been largely relying on tanks and other ground forces during assaults on the rebels. UN planes could also attempt to bomb tanks and artillery, but unless they have very specific information, this risks causing rather than preventing civilian casualties.

As the bloodshed continued, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that Britain will send Typhoon and Tornado fighter jets “in the coming hours” to help enforce the no-fly zone over Libya and to prevent Col Gaddafi from launching “a brutal attack using air, land and sea forces” on the rebel-held city of Benghazi.

The British Prime Minister said the move is about saving lives and protecting people in Libya and insists it was “not about choosing the government of Libya.”

Britain, France and NATO were holding emergency meetings yesterday, with Britain, France and Arab nations set to meet today in Paris to finalise the last details of the no-fly zone.

MEP in favour of Malta offering military facilities

MEP Simon Busuttil has voiced his support for Malta to offer its support through the provision of military facilities following the imposition of a no-fly zone over Libya – despite the fact that Malta’s Constitution does not permit any foreign military base on Maltese territory.

Furthermore, Malta’s Constitution also states that no military facilities in Malta will be allowed to be used by any foreign forces except at the request of the Government of Malta.

Dr Busuttil stressed, however, that a sense of proportion and perspective should be kept if Malta decides to lend some of its military facilities.

“The resolution is binding on all countries, including Malta, and our Constitution does not prevent us from supporting the implementation of this resolution,” he said.

Following the UN’s vote, Dr Busuttil and David Casa, the other PN MEP, released a statement saying they welcomed the imposition of a no-fly zone and the taking of necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack of the Col Gaddafi regime.

“Last week, we supported the European Parliament resolution that boldly called for a no-fly zone at a time when it was still taboo. Today, we are delighted that the international community has finally decided to act in order to put a stop to this senseless massacre.”

“The Libyan people want democracy. Is it too much to ask? Should they be killed for it? They should not and the international community should support them. Disregarding their pleas for help would be shameful and immoral,” they both said.