Gaddafi defiant as the international coalition prepares his noose

The fog of war lies thick in Benghazi this morning. There are reported explosions and gunfire and Sky News is showing footage of a Soviet-era fighter jet combusting in mid-air over the city; it is not clear if the aircraft was the victim of anti-aircraft fire, air-to-air combat or technical malfunction. Equally, it is unclear if the international coalition’s campaign has begun – leaders will meet in Paris today to finalise diplomatic agreements before mobilisation, but defence analysts say that French and Italian aircraft could already be patrolling Libyan skies.     

The Gaddafi regime has been typically deranged in response. Some ministers insist that the ceasefire is real; Gaddafi on the other hand is bloodcurdlingly adamant that the West ‘will regret intervention’ under this ‘unjust and invalid’ UN Resolution.

The regime’s contradictions may be a sign of its coming disintegration.