SWIFT, DECISIVE, BOLD AND RESOLUTE ACTION IS NEEDED - NOW

In just two days the situation has deteriorated since the last entry, events moving so swiftly that news agencies around the world are unable to keep pace, and yet despite the ruthless attempt to subjugate the Libyan People, Libyan's discredited leader and his sons have become international pariahs.

We have a leader employing mercenaries; orders issued to the military and the police to shoot, and there is plenty of evidence that the order is to shoot to kill.

We have the UN Libyan Mission requesting the immediate intervention of the United Nations on its Peoples' behalf to intervene.

We have the deputy Libyan ambassador to the UN stating that genocide is now being carried out in his country.

But the most telling, and the most moving illustration of all, is the defection of two Libyan Air Force fighter jet pilots refusing to carry out its Squadron's battle order to bomb civilians, and instead in a tremendous demonstration of defiance, seeking permission to land on Malta and then requesting asylum.

It IS now for the United Nations:

to act swiftly and decisively. To close down Libya's airspace to prevent any further in flow of mercenaries. To open safe corridors for medical aid.

It IS for the European Union:

to act swiftly and decisively too. To have its full military capability demonstrated to the Libyan army, air force and navy - in short, to lay down their arms.

This is happening in our own back yard, and if we cannot respond to this situation then the EU will be discredited and the UN will be seen as bellicose in rhetoric but empty in action.

The UK is showing very decisive leadership.

Today the Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, gave his reaction during a visit to Egypt, the first international leader to visit Egypt since the removal of President Mubarak. And this demonstrates this Country's ability to understand this type of dangerous situation. We are better placed than most to do this given our historical knowledge of this whole region and the practical experience thereby learned.

We see too the reaction of the Libyan Expatriates in Manchester - surely a comfort to those at home who can somehow gain access to the international media - that Libyans the world over, and the democracies are mobilising and will come to the Libyan People's aid.

The European Council of Ministers is meeting, and the Foreign Secretary William Hague has also shown decisive leadership, sending out a very clear signal to the international community that the view of the UK will be heard.

It is going to get worse before it gets better; that is for sure.

But uniting internationally will put such pressure on the Libyan President to step down or, better still, to flee his benighted country, that the slow process of creating a true democracy for the first time in 41 years can begin.

It is a signal also to other repressive regimes in the region. Consider where you stand. Consider how you treat your people. Consider the consequences if you do not heed to their insistence on full democratic rights and freedoms, something that we, here in the West and in the UK in particular take for granted and mistreat.

To all such regimes, and to Libya, the eyes of the world are upon you.

Ian Bradley Marshall
LIVERPOOL
21 February 2011