U.S. and Europe Move to Protect Rebels

Both Gaddafi and his opponents are digging in, while the U.S. repositions naval and air units and the European Union imposes sanctions. The Pentagon didn’t say why they were repositioning forces around Libya, other than to "provide options and flexibility." The European Union, following the lead of the U.N., imposed an arms embargo, visa ban, and other sanctions, and Prime Minister David Cameron said he was considering imposing a no-fly zone over the country and giving weapons to the rebels. French Prime Minister Francois Fillon also said he was considering military options. Meanwhile, Gaddafi sent planes to bomb Benghazi, the epicenter of the uprising, but the rebels repulsed them with anti-aircraft fire. In Misrata, rebels say they shot down an attack helicopter sent from Tripoli. Failing to take back the rebel-controlled cities, Gaddafi entrenched his forces in Tripoli and the surrounding area, bringing in thousands of troop