Rebels to Loyalists: Surrender by Saturday

Libya’s interim government has offered an ultimatum to Moammar Gadhafi loyalists: Surrender by Saturday, or we’ll take military action. Barring a “peaceful indication” from loyalists by the weekend, “we will decide this militarily,” said Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the Transitional National Council. “We do not wish to do so but we cannot wait longer.” But “so far we have been given no indication of a peaceful surrender,” said the TNC’s military chief.

Britain applauded the TNC move, the BBC reports. “I think it's the right thing to do, to say to the forces loyal to the remnants of the Gaddafi regime: Here is the opportunity to lay down your arms, to consider your situation,” said a top official. He added that the UN had agreed to unfreeze $1.5 billion in Libyan money held in the UK to “help address urgent humanitarian needs.” Click to read about a new Gadhafi grandchild. (More Libya stories.)