LIBYA: Colonels defected to Malta rather than bomb protesters

Los Angeles Times, February 21, 2011

The pilots of two Libyan military jets that landed in Malta on Monday are "senior colonels" who were ordered to bomb protesters, Al Jazeera satellite network reports.

The colonels say they refused to bomb protesters demonstrating against Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi and instead defected to Malta, according to Al Jazeera reporter Karl Stagno-Novarra in Malta.

The pilots reportedly told Maltese officials they were based in Tripoli and ordered to attack protesters in Benghazi. After seeing fellow pilots begin bombing, the colonels changed course and headed for Malta, according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera has been relaying eyewitness reports of airstrikes Monday, but cautioned that the bombings could not be verified.

Clashes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Monday left 160 dead, Al Arabiya network quoted eyewitnesses as saying Monday.

One of two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters to land in Malta,
is surrounded by Maltese police after it landed in Malta's International
airport, Monday, Feb. 21, 2011.

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Two Libyan helicopters sit on the ground after arriving at Malta's
international airport, Monday Feb. 21, 2011. The helicopters reportedly
arrived carrying seven people, with who claimed to be French.