Libyan opposition council gets down to business

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP


BENGHAZI, Libya, March 5, 2011 (AFP) - Libyans fighting to overthrow Moamer Gadhafi were to gather in secret Saturday for the first formal meeting of their self-declared national council to chart the future course of their struggle.


Former justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil, one of the first high-profile Libyans to defect from Gadhafi's four-decade regime when the uprising began more than two weeks ago, has been appointed chairman of the 30-member body.


Rebels say they have set up local councils in cities they control in the east and intend to lead the country into an election, although Gadhafi is still firmly in control of the capital Tripoli.


After a lightning start to their uprising when rebels seized much of the east, including Libya's second city Benghazi, a bustling Mediterranean port, their advance towards Tripoli has since stalled around the oil town of Ras Lanuf.





Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Libyan+opposition+council+gets+down+business/4388850/story.html

[pinboy3niner]

1. "It's a safety issue. This guy (Gadhafi) still assassinates people."

No wonder they're meeting in secret!

[maddezmom]

2. UK to send advisers to Libya, troops if needed

UK to send advisers to Libya, troops if needed
Sat Mar 5, 2011 1:34pm GMT
Print | Single Page<-> Text <+> * Taskforce of government advisers to go to Benghazi
* Black Watch troops on stand-by to deploy

* Troops to aid humanitarian efforts only


By Stefano Ambrogi

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - Britain said on Saturday it was hoping to send a diplomatic taskforce to Libya soon to make contact with opposition leaders and had readied a battalion of troops to aid humanitarian and evacuation efforts if needed.

Government sources told Reuters a team of experts including foreign office officials would travel to Benghazi in the east of the country in due course to see what anti-Gaddafi forces required.

The taskforce is being sent on a fact-finding mission and to see how Britain could help in a logistical way, the sources said. It is understood the rebels will not be given arms as there is an international arms embargo in place.

Asked when the team would go a source said: "we are not discussing any timings." The Foreign Office declined official comment

more:http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE72408L20110305