Libya has announced an immediate ceasefire against pro-democracy protesters, as the United Nations Security Council authorised a no-fly zone over the country and Western warplanes prepared to attack Gaddafi forces.
But government forces continued to fire on the rebel-held western city of Misurata, witnesses said, where an earlier attack had claimed the lives of at least 25 people.
The UN resolution authorised the no-fly zone and attacks on forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, who had hours earlier vowed to crush Libya's revolt with "no mercy, no pity."
"Libya has decided an immediate ceasefire and an immediate halt to all military operations,” Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa earlier said as Western and Arab nations geared up to launch air strikes.
Moussa Koussa said Libya was ready to open dialogue with all parties, without specifying who. He added the no-fly zone would increase the suffering of Libyans and said authorising military action was "unacceptable."
US President Barack Obama threatened Gaddafi with military action unless he met specific, "non-negotiable" demands for a ceasefire, a halt to attacks on civilians and a retreat from rebel strongholds.
France, which has been at the forefront of calls for a no-fly zone and military action, said it remained cautious after Koussa's comments, saying the threat on the ground in Libya had not been lifted, reports Reuters.
A BLUFF?
The commander of the rebels fighting to overthrow Gaddafi dismissed any ceasefire offer as a bluff, accusing the strongman of being a liar.
Khalifa Heftir told a press conference, the ceasefire "is not important to us" and that Gaddafi is "bluffing."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said reports of a ceasefire would be judged on "action" not words.
More than two hours after the announcement there was no confirmation that assaults on rebel positions had stopped.
An AFP correspondent in Tripoli reported hearing loud, distant explosions, but could not pinpoint them or say what caused them.
Abdulbasid Abu Muzairik, a resident of Misurata, told Al Jazeera there was shelling from artillery and tanks.
RESOLUTION '73
Meeting on Thursday, the UN Security Council voted to permit "all necessary measures" to establish a no-fly zone, protect civilian areas and impose a ceasefire on Gaddafi's military.
Five countries on the 15-strong council abstained, including permanent members China and Russia, who did not use their veto power. India and Brazil also abstained in addition to Germany.
Resolution 1973 outlines the "responsibility of the Libyan authorities to protect the Libyan population" and stresses the regime bears the responsibility to "take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of civilians."
UN CHIEF WARNS
UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned the Libyan regime that anyone responsible for attacks on unarmed civilians will be "brought to justice."
"It is absolutely necessary for the Libyan authorities to immediately cease all hostilities against the civilian population," he told joint a news conference with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
MILITARY PREPARATIONS
So far Belgium, Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Qatar and the United States have said they will help to implement the no-fly zone.
Meanwhile, Nato said it would discuss what role the alliance may take, and the Arab League said Ban Ki-moon will attend a high-level meeting of European Union, Arab League and African Union officials in Paris today.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said London would deploy Tornado and Typhoon warplanes as well as air-to-air refuelling and surveillance aircraft to airbases "from where they can take the necessary action."
Britain has an airbase on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
The United States was expected to play a key role in the operation while Canada announced that it would deploy CF-18 fighter jets.
Italy has offered its air bases to third countries to impose the no-fly zone.
The intervention bans military aircraft from flying in Libyan airspace, but not commercial or humanitarian flights.
The Arab League has reiterated its support for the no-fly zone, but it is not clear to what extent Arab nations will be involved in the operation.
Paul Brennan, Al Jazeera's correspondent in London, said the military preparations by international forces were going to continue regardless of Koussa's announcement.
Eurocontrol, Europe's air traffic agency, said earlier the Libyan government had closed its airspace to all traffic in response to the UN resolution. Egypt also confirmed that it had begun to enforce the no-fly zone and that all flights to Libya from Egypt have been halted.
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