Libya Threatens Counterattack Throughout Mediterranean to Any Military Action

TRIPOLI — Libya warned foreign powers on Thursday, only hours before a United Nations Security Council vote on a no-fly zone, that any outside attack on it would trigger retaliation and destabilise the Mediterranean region.

The defense ministry said foreign military action to aid opponents to Moammar Gadhafi's 41-year rule would result in both short- and long-terms risks to the region.

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled vote on a resolution for a no-fly zone over Libya today, raising the prospect of bombing raids against loyalist forces advancing on the rebel capital of Benghazi in eastern Libya.

"Any foreign military act against Libya will expose all air and maritime traffic in the Mediterranean Sea to danger and civilian and military (facilities) will become targets of Libya's counter-attack," said the statement broadcase on Libyan television and distributed by the official news agency JANA.

"The Mediterranean basin will face danger not just in the short-term, but also in the long-term," it said.

France, the only country to recognise the interim rebel council in Benghazi, believes there is enough support for the resolution to pass and military intervention could take place within hours of that, senior French diplomatic sources said.