[Whitfield:] French fighter jets are making good on President Nicolas Sarkozy's promise to use all mean necessary to stop Moammar Ghadafi's assault on Libyan civilians.
[Gorani:] All right. The first air strike came soon after Mr. Sarkozy delivered a strong warning from the international community. Here is his statement.
[President Nicolas Sarkozy, France:] Today, the leaders of the League of Arab States, the the European Union, U.S. and Canadian representatives met in Paris, under joint chairmanship of France and the U.N. Secretary-General. Together, we have decided to ensure the application of the Security Council resolution demanding immediate cease-fire and an end to violence against civil populations in Libya. Participants agreed to use all the necessary means, in particular military means, to enforce the Security Council decisions. This is why, in agreement with our partners, our Air Force will oppose any aggression by Colonel Gadhafi against the population of Benghazi. As of now, our aircraft are preventing planes from attacking the town. As of now, other French aircrafts are ready to intervene against tanks, armored vehicles threatening unarmed civilians. As of yesterday, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Arab countries sent Colonel Gadhafi and the forces he's using the following warning. If there is not an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of the forces that have been attacking civilian populations in the last few weeks, our countries will have recourse to military means. This warning was endorsed by all participants at the summit that has just concluded. Colonel Gadhafi has totally ignored this warning. In the last few hours, his forces have stepped up their deadly offensives. Arab peoples have chosen to free themselves from the enslavement in which they have felt trapped for too long. These revolts have given rise to great hopes in the hearts of all those who share the values of democracy and human rights. But they're not without risk. The future of these Arab peoples belongs to them. Amidst the many different difficulties and ordeals they must confront, these Arab peoples need our help and support, and it is our duty to provide it. In Libya, a peaceful civilian population, demanding nothing more than the right to choose its own destiny, is in mortal danger. It is our duty to respond to their anguished appeal. The future of Libya belongs to the Libyans. We do not seek to decide for them. Their fight for freedom is theirs. Our intervention alongside Arab peoples is not with a view to imposing any specific outcome on them, but in the name of the universal conscience that will not tolerate such crimes. Today, we are intervening in Libya under a United Nations Security Council mandate, alongside our partners, in particular, our Arab partners. And we are doing this in order to protect the civilian populations from the murderous madness of a regime that, by killing its own people, has forfeited all legitimacy. We are intervening in order to enable the Libyan people to choose its own destiny. It must not be deprived of its rights by violence and terror. There is still time for Colonel Gadhafi to avoid the worst by complying immediately and unreservedly with all the demands of the international community. The doors of diplomacy will open once again when the aggression stops. Our determination is total. I say this with all solemnity, all those concerned must now face up to their responsibilities. It is a grave decision that we have come to take. Alongside its Arab partners, European partners, North American partners, France is resolved to shoulder its role before history. Thank you.
[Whitfield:] There are more points of view coming out of Paris. We'll get to our State Department correspondent Jill Dougherty in a moment. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also there in Paris earlier today. Meantime, I'll let you get you back to Northeastern Libya, and that's where we find our Arwa Damon. She is there. We know that French war planes have been firing on Libyan and military vehicles. What kind of activity are you seeing where you are?
[Arwa Damon, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Fredricka, in the city of Benghazi was where we saw that assault earlier today. So far, it does seem as if the opposition does manage to retain control of the city. Based on everything that we have heard and seen, it does appear as if the opposition did manage to drive out Colonel Gadhafi's advancing tanks and military units, one eyewitness telling us that he saw the tanks coming down from the southern part of the city. We also saw a number of artillery strikes. A member of our team saw those tanks advancing as well and firing on civilian buildings. We went down just a few hours ago to survey the damage. There were a number of buildings that were destroyed. One man from that area said that he saw the Gadhafi forces firing from their heavy machine guns mounted on top of their vehicles, saying that they were smiling and laughing the entire time. Everyone at that point was asking where this international help was. Where were those aircrafts? Where was the implementation of the resolution that stated that all necessary means would be used to protect the civilian population? Now, we do know, of course, that there are French jets overhead, and that is coming as something of a relief to the population here because they do fully expect that Gadhafi is going to try to strike the city once again. But with that overhead protection, now they think they have a fighting chance Fredricka.
[Whitfield:] All right. Arwa Damon, thank you so much, coming from Northeastern Libya.
[Gorani:] Well, we heard tough talk from the French president, followed by swift action. In fact, I think the action took place even before the talk. France is clearly taking the lead in this international effort.
[Whitfield:] And the fact that Saturday's meeting between the U.S., European and Arab leaders took place in Paris really underscores that fact and the real symbolism coming behind this kind of coalition on this mission. State Department correspondent Jill Dougherty is in Paris. She joins us now with more on all that was accomplished and maybe some unfinished business as well.
[Jill Dougherty, Cnn World Affairs Correspondent:] Yes. Well, accomplished would be this agreement to use all necessary means to help this help to the this coalition now to carry out that U.N. resolution. And the whole idea of it, Secretary Clinton was asked, what is the main purpose? And she said it's to stop the humanitarian attacks, the humanitarian disaster that could unfold. And then, of course, in the long run, the position of the United States government and others here, is to have Moammar Gadhafi step down. But those are really, at this point, two separate things. They they are watching very carefully. In fact, it was a very dramatic time here because you had the people in that room who were determining what this coalition would do, watching, getting information from their military advisors on what was happening on the ground in Libya. And so that that was their determination. But, now, the as I said, the primary thing is to make sure that if it does slow down, if he if Moammar Gadhafi does stop that offense, then what is next? Will he carry out what the international community wants him to do?
[Gorani:] Jill, this is Hala. We're hearing reports that the French foreign minister has said that this military action will continue unless Gadhafi complies with the U.N. resolution, but there has to be some worry from these allies, from this coalition that this will become a long drawn-out affair that will become complicated and possibly deadly and unpopular.
[Dougherty:] That is absolutely true because, in fact, even before this happened, back in Washington, I was speaking with a senior administration official who said precisely that, that there is no clarity on what Moammar Gadhafi would do. There could be several scenarios. He might comply for a while. He might pull back his troops, bide his time, and then start all over again. Or, if he simply pulled back and they went into this kind of stasis, the country, in effect, would be split in half. That could be a real problem. And then are the domestic the people in the countries that are participating willing to stick it out? So there are a lot of unknowns. And one of the worries, of course, was, when wounded, figuratively speaking, what would Gadhafi do? Would he strike back? Would he use terrorism as he has before? Would he resort to weapons of mass destruction, as he has before? So those are all of the considerations that are ongoing.
[Whitfield:] Jill Dougherty, thanks so much, from Paris. We appreciate that.
[Gorani:] All right. Our coverage of the unfolding breaking news story out of Libya will continue. And after the break we'll also go live to Japan for an update on the crisis at the quake-ravaged nuclear plant. Stay with us.