TRIPOLI, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida forces attacked Libyan government armed forces that stalled west of Benghazi, Libyan official news agency quoted an official as saying on Saturday.
Al-Qaida forces attacked government armed forces with helicopters, which violated the no-fly zone imposed by the UN Security Council, and forced the government forces to fight back, the official from the Ministry of Defense said.
Local satellite channel news on Saturday quoted a spokesman from Libyan government as saying that government forces did not conduct any attacks in Benghazi.
Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa announced Friday that Tripoli decided to stop all military operations after the adoption of a UN resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.
UN Security Council on Thursday passed a resolution to impose a no-fly zone over Libya, which calls to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.
- Al-Qaida attacks gov`t armed forces west of Benghazi: report
- Artillery, air strikes in Benghazi as int`l summit convenes in Paris
- Rebels evicted from large part of Benghazi: Libyan state TV
- AL says Paris summit aims to maintain Libyan security
- Libyan TV claims Benghazi residents are fighting rebels
- Libyan oil minister calls on firms to send back workers
- Libya oil fields ready for production: minister
- Libya denies reported downing of warplane by rebels
- Italy offers bases to support U.N.-led "no-fly zone" over Libya
- Gaddafi sends defiant letters to world leaders over U.N. resolution
