Libyan Revolution Week 27 part 6

[joshcryer]

Links to sites with updates: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya">AJE Libya Live Blog http://blogs.aljazeera.net/twitter-dashboard">AJE Twitter Dashboard http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/libya">The Guardian http://uk.reuters.com/places/libya">Reuters http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/">Telegraph http://feb17.info/">feb17.info http://www.livestream.com/libya17feb?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks">Libya Alhurra (live video webcast from Benghazi) http://libya-alhurra.tumblr.com/">Libya Alhurra archives and updates http://www.ustream.tv/channel/benghaziradio">Benghazi Free Radio, in Arabic (may have translators present at times) http://www.tributefm.com/">Tribute FM (English broadcast from Benghazi) http://www.libyafeb17.com/">libyafeb17.com

Twitter links: http://twitter.com/#!/aymanm">Ayman Mohyeldin, with AJE http://twitter.com/#!/bencnn">Ben Wedeman, with CNN http://twitter.com/#!/tripolitanian">tripolitanian, a Libyan from Tripoli http://twitter.com/#!/BaghdadBrian">Brian Conley, reporter in Libya http://twitter.com/#!/freelibyanyouth">FreeLibyanYouth, Libyan advocate http://twitter.com/#!/LibyaFeb17_com">LibyaFeb17.com twitter account http://twitter.com/#!/ChangeInLibya">ChangeInLibya, Libyan advocate https://twitter.com/#!/TheyCallMeSof">Sofyan Amry (arrived in Benghazi recently) http://twitter.com/#!/KiloFoot">KiloFoot (general Arab Spring news aggregation)

Useful links: http://audioboo.fm/feb17voices">feb17voices http://www.google.com/search?q=time+in+libya">Current time in Libya http://www.islamicfinder.org/cityPrayerNew.php?country=libya">Prayer times in Libya

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1801426">Week 27 part 5 here.

http://www.pogar.org/countries/theme.aspx?cid=10&t=2">The Oppressive Laws of Gaddafi's Libya
The government grants the right of association to official institutions by virtue of Law 71 of 1972, which regulates associational activity in Libya. Law 20 of 1991 on the Promotion of Freedom sanctions the death penalty for anyone whose continued existence would lead to the disintegration of Libyan society. The Code of Honor of March 1997 institutes a system of collective punishment for wrongdoing, whereby families, towns and municipalities are held responsible for the actions of individuals in their midst and are subject to punishment such as the dissolution of the local People's Congress or the denial of government services, including utilities, water, infrastructure projects. Associations engaging in political activity are illegal in Libya. Further, political activity is defined by Articles 2 and 3 of Law 71 of 1972 as any activity based on a political ideology contrary to the principles of the Al-Fateh Revolution of September 1, 1969. The Law on Publications, No. 76 of 1972, as modified by Law 120 of 1972 and Law 75 of 1973, govern the operation of the press, reserving all rights to publish.

This is what the Libyan freedom fighters are fighting against. Each and every one, when they went into this, knew that it was all or nothing, they had no choice but to fight. For their very survival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixwx_B38678">Marching On in Libya, for the revolutionaries!

Libyan rebels celebrate in Gaddafi's "Green Square" after capturing his compound.

Screencap of http://go.sky.com/vod/content/Home/content/videoId/eefdd9d2c3e5f110VgnVCM1000001f5012ac________/content/detachedLiveTv.do#url=http://go.sky.com/vod/content/Home/content/changeDetachedChannel.do?videoId=eefdd9d2c3e5f110VgnVCM1000001f5012ac____">Sky News, click the link to watch live footage.


Day 188 August 24

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/live-blog-gadhafi-releases-taped-message">CNN crew, other journalists, escape Tripoli hotel
CNN's Matthew Chance and his production team, who have been trapped in the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli, have left the hotel to freedom, Chance reports.
http://news.yahoo.com/report-libyan-fm-says-gadhafis-reign-over-140847746.html">Libyan FM says Gadhafi's reign is over
Moammar Gadhafi's foreign minister in Tripoli says the Libyan leader's grip on power is over, British broadcaster Channel 4 reported Wednesday.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8719269/Libya-masses-descend-on-Green-Square-to-celebrate.html">Libya: masses descend on Green Square to celebrate
Posters and official portraits were ripped, kicked and burned amid huge cheers and a cacophony of celebratory gunfire that erupted in the square. Rebels and locals fired into the air long into the night.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/110823/libya-muammar-al-gaddafi-hugo-chavez-venezuela">Venezuela's Hugo Chavez won't recognize Libya rebels
Hugo Chavez said that his country only recognizes "one government" in Libya, "the one led by Muammar Gaddafi."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/libyan-opposition-leaders-prepare-for-transition/2011/08/23/gIQAveS2ZJ_story.html">Libyan opposition leaders prepare for transition
With rebel fighters celebrating in the streets of Tripoli on Tuesday, opposition leaders in this eastern Libyan city now face tough questions about how they will guide the country through what is expected to be a tumultuous transition.

Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Libyan_civil_war">here for updated map. The size of the circles show population, the color represents control, red for FFs, green for tyrants. Note, this week is an animated gif, to show gains made by the freedom fighters.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x594751">A topic on the women of the revolution, dispels myths about the treatment of women in Benghazi.

Videos to bring the Libyan Revolution into context
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0vChMDuNd0">The Battle of Benghazi. BBC Panorama on Libya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyaPnMnpCAA">Part 1, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMzwQvcx62s">Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwWwOeZqz6M">Video of the convoy sent to take Benghazi, taken from a dead soliders cell phone (shows how massive the operation was). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAclhhHv43s&feature=player_embedded">Arab Awakening: Libya: Through the Fire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD5tu5bJWKc">Tea of Freedom Song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z41kQvx4uKw">Libya: Part 2 - The Uprising http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vNWCGDkdWY">Benghazi - Backbone of the Libyan revolution

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-march-10-0">March 10 7:28pm Saif al Islam Gaddafi says "the time has come for full-scale military action" against Libyan rebels. He goes on to say that Libyan forces loyal to his family "will never surrender, even if western powers intervene".

As of this week the National Trasitional Council has been formally recognized by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_the_Libyan_Republic#Recognition">52 countries. France (March 10), Qatar (March 28), Maldives (April 3), Italy (April 4), Kuwait (April 13), The Gambia (April 22), Jordan (April 24), Sengal (April 28), The United Kingdom (June 4), Spain (June 8), Australia (June 9), UAE (June 12), Germany (June 13), Canada (June 14), Panama (June 14), Austria (June 18), Latvia (June 20), Denmark (June 22), Bulgaria (June 28), Croatia (June 28), Turkey (July 3), Poland (July 9), Netherlands (July 13), Belgium (July 13), Luxembourg (July 13), United States (July 15), Japan (July 15), Albania (July 18), Slovenia (July 20), Montenegro (July 21), Portugal (July 28), Botswana (August 11), Gabon, Tunisia, New Zealand (August 22), Egypt (August 22), Jordan (August 22), Morocco (August 22), Colombia (August 22), Oman (August 23), Bahrain (August 23), Nigeria, Malta (August 23), Iraq (August 23), Greece (August 23), Norway (August 23), Lebanon (August 23), South Korea (August 24), Sudan (August 24), Hungary (August 24), Chad (August 24), Ethipia (August 24), Burkina Faso (August 24).

"One month ago (Western countries) were sooo nice, so nice like pussycats," Saif says in a contemptuous sing-song tone."Now they want to be really aggressive like tigers. (But) soon they will come back, and cut oil deals, contracts. We know this game." - http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058389,00.html">Saif Gaddafi

(Yeah, Saif, as if you weren't "cutting oil deals, contracts" with western states. Who are the 'tigers' now? Bombing your own people.)

http://english.libya.tv/2011/04/25/eastern-libyans-believe-in-national-unity-distrust-au-and-turkish-mediation-survey-reveals/">The first free public opinion poll ever conducted in Libya reveals clues to Eastern Libyan sentiments
* 98 percent of the respondents do not support the division of Libya as a part of the political solution for the current conflict with the Gaddafi regime. Around 95 percent also don’t see any role for Gaddafi or his sons in a transitional period, and think it is impossible to implement any political reform in Libya if Gaddafi or one of his sons stays in power

* Around 96 percent of those polled, believe that the 17th of February revolution can consolidate the national unity of Libya and support the model of a democratic Libya based on a constitution which respects human rights

* Al-Qaeda has not played any role in the 17th of February revolution, say 94 percent of the Eastern Libyans, and 91 percent thinks it’s impossible for Al-Qaeda to play any political role in the new Libya

* The National Transitional Council is seen by 92 percent of those surveyed as “expressing the views and wishes of Libyans for change”

This is equivalent to 17% the entire population of Libya, doing the numbers very conservatively.

http://jenkinsear.com/2011/03/19/a-legal-war-the-united-nations-participation-act-and-libya/">A Legal War: The United Nations Participation Act and Libya
The above link is to an overview of why Obama's implementation of the NFZ and R2P is perfectly legal under the law. I will not post it entirely here, however, all objections come down to the misinformed position that Obama, by using forces in Libya, was invoking Article 43 of the United Nations. This is wrong. Obama invoked Article 42, which does not require congressional approval to implement. Proof of this is that Article 43 has http://www.un.org/en/sc/repertoire/actions.shtml#rel5">never been used.

It goes like this: The US law (Title 22, Chap. 7, Subchap. XIV § 287d) grants the President the right to invoke UN Article 42 http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode22/usc_sec_22_00000287---d000-.html">without authorization, the War Powers Act (Title 50, Chap. 33 § 1541) grants the President permission to act without authorization under http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/50/1541�E548.html">"specific statutory authorization" which, by definition, is what 287d does. § 1543 of the War Powers Act requires the President to report to Congress, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/obama_explains_libya_mission_to_congress/2011/03/03/ABU9377_blog.html">which he did. One can argue all day and night about the legality of the War Powers Act, doesn't change the fact that under the law as it is written, the President acted within the law.

Editorials and stories worth reading.
http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/2011/03/2011328194855872276.html">Libyan Karzai? Chalabi? Forget it, http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2011/04/04/110404taco_talk_anderson#ixzz1HvS7iW22">Who Are the Rebels?, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/29/vision-democratic-libya-interim-national-council">A vision of a democratic Libya, http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/is-qaddafi-an-anti-racist/">Is Qaddafi an anti-racist?, http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/04/20/left-slipping-towards-qaddafi">The left: slipping towards Gaddafi?, http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2011/04/27/once-again-“stop-bombing”">Once again on "stop the bombing", http://www.juancole.com/2011/03/an-open-letter-to-the-left-on-libya.html">An Open Letter to the Left on Libya, http://www.juancole.com/2011/03/top-ten-ways-that-libya-2011-is-not-iraq-2003.html">Top Ten Ways that Libya 2011 is Not Iraq 2003, http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/09/110509fa_fact_anderson">Sons of the Revolution http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/voices/?ref=main-menu">Voices from the Field

Mohammed Nabbous, killed by Gaddafi's forces while trying to report on the massacre in Benghazi

"I'm not afraid to die, I'm afraid to lose the battle" -Mohammed Nabbous, a month ago when all this began

I'm struggling to come up with something to say about this man. I was not aware of the Libyan uprising until I saw Mo's first report, begging for help, posted here on DU. I was stricken. Here was a man giving everything he had to explain a situation that clearly terrified him, I would not call him a coward in that moment, but you could see the fear in his eyes, and desperation in his voice. For 30 days Nabbous would spend many hours covering the uprising in Benghazi. For many nights I would go to sleep with the webcast of Benghazi live on my computer screen, looking to it occasionally to be sure it was still 'there.' Mo treated the chat room as if we were his friends, and in some way, we were. I never signed up to LiveStream to thank him for all his work and it seems somewhat shallow to do so now, given that I was a lurker for so long. Ever since I took over posting these threads "Libya Alhurra" has been linked as a source of information. It wasn't until last night, when I posted, and twitter posted on Mo's adventures out into Benghazi to try to determine the truth of the situation, that Mo's webchannel became a hit, over 2000 people were watching him stream live. This was curious to him because he'd done many reports like this in the past but he appeared somewhat bemused that the view count exploded as it did. Last night Mo became a star. This is a man who first started out with a webcast replete with fear and desperation finally overcoming that aspect of himself and losing that fear, to become someone who was a fighter for the resistance just as much as those who held the guns. Reporting on the front lines of Benghazi became his final act, and for that he should never, ever be forgotten. I'm so sorry Mo that I never got to know you better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAclhhHv43s&feature=player_ded">Arab Awakening: Libya: Through the Fire is a documentary about Mo's last days, please watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EXALI60hg">Mo's first report, which many of you may remember, begging for help.

Mo leaves behind a wife and a newborn child she had http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/03/23/a_bright_voice_from_libyas_darkness">this to say about the No Fly Zone and R2P UN resolution:

We started this in a pure way, but he turned it bloody. Thousands of our men, women, and children have died. We just wanted our freedom, that's all we wanted, we didn't want power. Before, we could not do a single thing if it was not the way he wanted it. All we wanted was freedom. All we wanted was to be free. We have paid with our blood, with our families, with our men, and we're not going to give up. We are still going to do that no matter what it takes, but we need help. We want to do this ourselves, but we don't have the weapons, the technology, the things we need. I don't want anyone to say that Libya got liberated by anybody else. If NATO didn't start moving when they did, I assure you, I assure you, half of Benghazi if not more would have been killed. If they stop helping us, we are going to be all killed because he has no mercy anymore.

[joshcryer]

1. Libyan Revolution Day 189 updates below, current time in Libya, 4:54am Thursday, August 25

[pinboy3niner]

2. The Red Cross is playing catch up in Tripoli Hospitals - help if you can, plz.

Posted in GD by sfpcjock:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1809347

[pinboy3niner]

3. Anderson Cooper just announced that it is $2 1/2 million being offered for the capture or

killing of Qadaffi. It has gone up.

Postedin GD by applegrove:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1809275

[pinboy3niner]

4. Libya uprising: The battle on the road to Sirte

24 August 2011 Last updated at 22:39 ET


Columns of Libyan rebels are on the road towards the city of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's hometown and the place many believe he could make his last stand.


But pro-Gaddafi forces are still offering serious resistance, bringing the fight to the advancing rebels as far as 60 miles (100km) from the town.


Paul Wood is travelling with the rebels on the road to Sirte, from where he sent this report (1:55):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14658917

[ellisonz]

25. The interview with the dude with shades is classic.

[pinboy3niner]

28. I'm waiting to see Gaddafi camouflaged...

...based on advice from the top Camouflage expert in the world...




Yeah--that'll work.

[joshcryer]

33. Found this...

On Google images. Just spent an hour trying to make a better one but I'm not artist. :P

[pinboy3niner]

5. Doctor, witness say 17 rebel bodies found were executed

From CNN's Live Blog:

(Updated 11:02 p.m. ET, 5:02 a.m. Thursday in Libya)

The bodies of 17 rebels killed Tuesday by Gadhafi forces near the longtime leader's compound were taken Wednesday to a hospital in eastern Tripoli, a doctor there told CNN.


Dr. Mohammed Rashed said the victims had been executed. Rashed, a Libyan who has worked as a consultant in Britain for 25 years, said he was volunteering with a medical group at a Tripoli hospital when a patient showed up Wednesday seeking treatment for a leg wound.


The patient told Rashed that he was one of 25 people who had been abducted from their homes by Gadhafi forces, taken to a military barracks near Gadhafi's compound and accused of complicity with the rebels.


As the Gadhafi forces began to execute them, rebel forces began storming Bab al-Azizia, he said. The resulting confusion gave some of the captives the chance to escape, he said.


http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/live-blog-gadhafi-releases-taped-message/

[joshcryer]

31. Sky's report: Libya: Doctor Sees Victims Of 'Mass Execution'

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16056469">Libya: Doctor Sees Victims Of 'Mass Execution'

...

He said one of the survivors told them that they had been captured by Col Gaddafi's troops, held in a school for several days and then executed.

If the allegations are true, evidence of the injuries collected by Dr Moez and his colleagues could be used in any war crimes trial, if Col Gaddafi is ever found and brought to court.

Dr Moez said: "Around dusk time a large truck with an open back turned up unexpectedly and I could hear people crying and wailing.

"I went out to have a look what was in the truck and even before I got to the truck the stench was quite overwhelming.

...

[joshcryer]

6. Gaddafi's Neverland: inside the tyrant's bizarre lair

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029816/Gaddafis-Neverland-Fairground-rides-zoo-shrine-dead-daughter-Inside-tyrants-bizarre-lair.html">Gaddafi's Neverland: inside the tyrant's bizarre lair
It was the day when the ordinary people finally got to peer beyond the fortified concrete walls.

For the first time, Tripoli’s citizens discovered how Colonel Gaddafi had lived a life of opulence and surreal fantasy while they cowered under his bloodthirsty rule.

After the rebel fighters had overrun the tyrant’s massive sprawling compound, yesterday it was the turn of normally law-abiding Libyans to ransack and loot his properties. And they could scarcely believe what they saw.

...

But one could only stare in disbelief at this theme park within a warzone. He snorted: ‘Libyan children have no childhood, their lives are destroyed by Gaddafi. But his children, his family, have everything.’

One thing lacking in these discussions is the class element to this revolution. It's not just people rising up against an oppressor, it's people rising up against someone who http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/libya-wikileaks/8294913/LIBYA-POSTPONES-GENERAL-PEOPLES-CONGRESS-WALKS-BACK-FROM-WEALTH-DISTRIBUTION-AND-PRIVATIZATION-PLANS.html">wouldn't share the Libyan wealth.

[MedleyMisty]

42. To discuss that

you'd first have to realize that's what is going on. To most people on DU it's the West taking out a dictator who I guess wouldn't share his wealth with them? Despite all evidence that he was friendly with the West and the oil companies?

Also some people believe that Gaddafi was actually a socialist, despite all evidence. There's a lot of believing things despite all the evidence going on.

[joshcryer]

7. Libya: Rebels To Meet World Leaders In Paris

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16056423">Libya: Rebels To Meet World Leaders In Paris
The future of Libya after the end of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule will be discussed by world leaders at a conference in Paris.

Rebel leaders have been invited to join representatives from countries that took part in the offensive against the Gaddafi regime, as well as China, Russia, India and Brazil.

It came as the United States submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council to unfreeze $1.5bn (£916m) in Libyan assets.

A Downing Street spokesman said the meeting was a joint Franco-British initiative.

[pinboy3niner]

8. K&R...

I hear they're having a hard time finding Gaddafi because he took lessons from the world's top camouflage expert...




But I'm afraid this may not end as well as he hoped. :)

[tabatha]

9. A child, draped in a Kingdom of Libya flag, gestures as a group of Libyans living in Zimbabwe

A child, draped in a Kingdom of Libya flag, gestures as a group of Libyans living in Zimbabwe demonstrate outside the Libyan embassy in the capital of Harare, August 24, 2011. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo

(Just liked the picture.)

[Egnever]

10. What an unbelievable resource you have compiled here

My wife, who is a history teacher was just commenting last night that she will be interested to see the books written on the recent revolutions and the part the internet has played in them. Maybe you will be that person you have certainly documented at least this part in libya amazingly well. Thanks for the time and effort you put into it.

[joshcryer]

11. Yeah, it's over 10k, possibly 20k posts by now.

Most of which are credible reports. I think Wikipedia is doing an amazing job covering it as well. The internet changes how history is recorded, however, I kinda wonder if it makes it harder in that vein. A lot of false reports.

[pinboy3niner]

13. That's a great testament to the value of contemporaneous news compilation

History is not written here--it's merely aggregated and compiled from the reports and writings of others.

The intent is both to provide a handy, 'one-stop' resource that allows those here who are interested to follow developments efficiently, without having to search out and navigate to a multitude of individual sources; and to provide an archive that compiles information on the events and provides a record of how that information unfolded over time. It records not only what we knew, but when we knew it--again, as a handy, 'one-stop' resource.

And while the team here certainly has a built-in bias in the leanings of its members, we try put our POV aside and not censor or exclude items that may be negative or disagreeable. And I normally try to post items without comment, leaving the reports to speak for themselves.

We don't know yet how useful this effort will prove to be to those who will be looking back and examining these events in the future. But the record of "views," as well as occasional comments like yours, indicate that many followers of these news compilation/aggregation threads find them helpful, valuable and a real time-saver.

Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. We know these things, but the occasional validation is extremely helpful. There are times, especially when the energy may be flagging, that these comments provide a real pick-me-up.

Thanks again, Egnever. :hug:

[joshcryer]

12. Venezuelan Embassy looted in Libya: Hugo Chavez

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Venezuelan-Embassy-looted-in-Libya-Hugo-Chavez/articleshow/9727077.cms">Venezuelan Embassy looted in Libya: Hugo Chavez
CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said today that his country's embassy in Libya was looted.

Chavez said he has received word that the Venezuelan Embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli "was assaulted and totally looted" by hordes of people.

He didn't give details or say whether anyone was injured in the incident, which occurred during rebel assaults on government and other buildings.

Chavez has been a staunch defender of Muammar Gaddafi throughout the conflict.

[joshcryer]

14. Libya: NTC seeks £3 billion in emergency aid

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8721505/Libya-NTC-seeks-3-billion-in-emergency-aid.html">Libya: NTC seeks £3 billion in emergency aid
The sum was twice that announced Tuesday by NTC number two Mahmud Jibril.

"The participants in the meeting supported the Libyan demand for five billion dollars to be unfrozen urgently from blocked assets" of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, Aref Ali Nayed, the TNC's envoy to the United Arab Emirates said.

The meeting, attended by representatives in the Libya contact group of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the United States, was held at the request of the NTC, the political organ of Libya's rebellion.

Mr Jibril said on Tuesday the funds were needed to pay salaries of Libyans before the end of the month, and for humanitarian support, NTC number two Mahmud Jibril said in Doha on Tuesday.

[tabatha]

15. More atrocities

CamboDonut CamboDonut
@BentBenghazi Just in Misrata mil council:"We have found possible mass murder in Tripoli prison.We believe event happen abt 4 days ago"
3 hours ago
@RRowleyTucson From Misrata military council:"Drs at main Tripoli Hospital know more.Prisoners locked up, grenades thrown into their rooms."
3 hours ago
@RRowleyTucson Frm Misrata military council:"So far only retrieved13 bodies. All badly burnt. Trying to get understanding from city morgue"
2 hours ago
@BentBenghazi G must be caught, he will continue to bring in mercenaries the fuckhead
2 hours ago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happier scene - some freed prisoners arrive home in Benghazi

http://youtu.be/cetMpwhI7yA

[joshcryer]

16. Gaddafi's Fleeing Mercenaries Describe the Collapse of the Regime

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2090205,00.html?xid=rss-fullworld-yahoo">Gaddafi's Fleeing Mercenaries Describe the Collapse of the Regime
Right from the start, Mario, an ethnic Croatian artillery specialist from Bosnia, suspected it was a lost cause.

"My men were mainly from the south of Libya and Chad, and there were a few others from countries south of Libya," said Mario, who spoke on condition that his last name not be published. A veteran of the wars of the former Yugoslavia, he had been hired by the Gaddafi regime to help fight the rebels and, later, NATO. "Discipline was bad, and they were too stupid to learn anything. But things were O.K. until the air strikes commenced. The other side was equally bad, if not worse. Gaddafi would have smashed the rebels had the West not intervened."

By early July, Mario said, more than 30% of the men under his command had deserted or defected to the rebel side. NATO missiles scored several direct hits on his forces, causing "significant casualties." At that point in the war, he said, "military hardware stopped having the role it once did. We had to use camouflage and avoid open spaces."

Away from the front, at the heart of the regime, mistrust and excess further undermined Gaddafi's hold on power, Mario said. "Life in Gaddafi's compound and shelters was so surreal, with partying, women, alcohol and drugs," said Mario, 41. "One of the relatives of Gaddafi took me to one of his villas where they offered me anything I wanted. I heard stories about people being shot for fun and forced to play Russian roulette while spectators were making bets, like in the movies."

Wow, fascinating article.

[joshcryer]

17. The end of Act One in Libya

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Libya/5303531/story.html">The end of Act One in Libya
As this is written, Moammar Gadhafi's 42-year grip on Libya is about finished. But before the rejoicing begins (in the West especially) some reflections are in order.

In a civil war, it's not over till it's over. There are still serious loyalist enclaves in and out of Tripoli that must be liquidated before anything can remotely be called "over." For short-term purposes, "over" means when Gadhafi or his mortal remains are uncontrovertibly in captivity, because Libya's fragmented condition is fertile ground for pretenders and warlordism.

The recent situation in Ivory Coast comes to mind, where even with French boots on the ground, it took days to evict pretender Laurent Gbagbo from his mansion - and everyone knew where he was. That Gadhafi could slip down a rathole for months as Saddam Hussein did is very possible. That he could get into the hinterland among armed friendly tribes and become an active thorn in the side of whomever is trying to reassemble Libya is also conceivable.

Gadhafi's fall will give the lie to those who said it could not be done and should not be tried. Air power alone would not have done it. But in the beginning it prevented a massacre, and in the end it afforded the rebellion's leadership sufficient time to get their act together. The euro-NATO armed forces involved are suffering from heavy austerity measures and still, with substantial help from allies including Canada and the U.S., they showed that even somewhat threadbare conventional forces (adroitly handled by RCAF Lt.-Gen. Charles Bouchard) could do the job assigned. Could, in fact, help a very ragtag insurrection outlast a well-dug in and ruthless tyrant.

Hat tip to Charles Bouchard, what a great guy.

[tabatha]

18. US writer Matthew VanDyke 'escapes from Libyan jail'

THE mother of a US writer missing since March in Libya says she has spoken with her son and that he said he had escaped from a Tripoli prison.

Sharon VanDyke says her 32-year-old son, Matthew, called her today to tell her he had escaped.

VanDyke told his mother he had been held in solitary confinement in Abu Salim prison in Tripoli, but fellow prisoners helped him escape to a compound where he borrowed a phone.

VanDyke travelled to Libya last winter to write about the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi and then disappeared.

Initially, Libyan officials denied that VanDyke was being held, but they acknowledged during talks with Hungarian officials late last month that he was in custody.

US officials were trying to confirm that he was held by the Libyans.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/us-writer-matthew-vandyke-escapes-from-libyan-jail/story-e6freuyi-1226121757332

[pinboy3niner]

21. Reports are that he was held all that time in solitary confinement

When he called his mother, he had to apologize for losing his voice because he'd had no one to talk to for months.

Especially cruel, for the family, was that the regime continued to deny knowing anything about his whereabouts while holding him in captivity all that time.

VanDyke went to Libya after hearing from friends there when the uprising began. He'd spent a couple of months there earlier, and had close ties to the people he'd met then.

When the uprising began, VanDyke went to Benghazi to see his friends, to form groups to discuss democracy and the kinds of Constitutional and human liberties enshrined in the U.S., and to document what was happening in Libya as a writer and photojournalist.

In 2007, VanDyke had begun writing a book about his travels in the ME and North Africa. Now, more than ever, many of us are eager to hear about his experiences.

[joshcryer]

19. China firms keen on returning to Libya

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/24/ap/asia/main20097025.shtml">China firms keen on returning to Libya
(AP) BEIJING — China's belated diplomacy in reaching out to the rebels in Libya after its initial hostility toward the uprising may mean Chinese firms eager to return there will have to go to the back of the line.

...

Libyan opposition leaders say they'll honor contracts signed under the former regime. But they have made a clear distinction between less supportive countries such as China and strong backers in Washington and Paris.

[joshcryer]

20. Libya's celebration

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700173423/Libyas-celebration.html">Libya's celebration
The Arab Spring has been a celebration of the common human yearning for freedom, as well as of the precious price that often must be paid to achieve it.

Libya is the latest manifestation of this. Cheering crowds and euphoric celebrations have broken out throughout the nation this week as it has become clear that rebels have succeeded in toppling the 42-year reign of Moammar Gadhafi. A lot of important questions remain about Libya's future, but those are taking a back seat for the moment. Freedom itself is worth celebrating, and few people on earth can understand that quite like people who have been oppressed for so long. Libya's relatively fast-moving revolt ought to be a warning to other despots around the world. No matter what they would have us believe, their people long to celebrate the way Libyans are celebrating today.

[joshcryer]

22. Libyans plunder Qaddafi family's riches

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/25/501364/main20097048.shtml">Libyans plunder Qaddafi family's riches
TRIPOLI, Libya — Muammar Qaddafi's son al-Saadi liked fast cars, yachts and soccer, and his beachfront villa was stocked with his expensive toys. His sister Aisha lived in a two-story mansion with an indoor pool and sauna.

As rebels took control of the Libyan capital over the weekend, the luxurious homes — symbols of the Qaddafi family's excesses — were among their first targets. After driving out the guards, rebels trashed and looted the villas and neighbors wandered through the wreckage Wednesday expressing their anger at the Qaddafi family's wealth and ostentatious tastes.

"I can't even believe what I am seeing," said Muftah Shubri, a resident of Tripoli's western Nofleen neighborhood, as he walked across Aisha's lawn to the large covered pool where a ball and a small rubber boat still floated in the water.

Qaddafi's 42-year rule over Libya had increasingly become a family business, with the dictator divvying up key spheres of interest, from oil to security, among his six sons.

:rofl:

Taking from the rich to give to the poor. I can't believe that some Libyans were either ignorant or unawares of Gaddafi's excess. I wonder if he kept it non-flashy in Libya.

[joshcryer]

23. Celebrations – after 42 years of tyranny the people of Tripoli were finally waking from a nightmare

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/08/25/libya-mirror-man-reports-on-gaddafi-s-fanatical-snipers-that-still-kill-from-shadows-115875-23369418/">The gunfire was unnerving but unmistakably celebratory – after 42 years of tyranny the people of Tripoli were finally waking from their nightmare

...

The 49-year-old said: “Before we were resigned to having nothing, Gaddafi kept all the wealth for himself and his family. Now we have hope, that is such an amazing feeling, to have hope, I have not had hope since I was very young. We have been through so much to get to where we are today and hopefully Gaddafi will be captured soon.”

...

Mohammed Ajili and his six-year-old son Sohaib soaked up the carnival atmosphere in Martyrs’ Square. The delighted dad said: “We are all happy, Libya is happy. I just wanted to be here to celebrate. The tyrant has gone and a new future will soon begin. It is a great time to be from Libya, Free Libya.”

...

The 55-year-old said: “My business has been through a terrible time, I have struggled to feed my family. But this is a new dawn and I truly believe the struggle we have gone through has been worth it to see Gaddafi fall. Now we have to join together, all the Libyan people, to make our country magnificent once again.”

Victory may not be assured, but here in Tripoli you sense this troubled country has turned a very important corner.

[joshcryer]

24. As we drive through Tripoli, impressive to see virtually no looting. No police, but order prevails.

http://twitter.com/#!/JeffreyKofman/status/106643549369548800">@JeffreyKofman
Jeffrey Kofman
As we drive through Tripoli, impressive to see virtually no looting. No police, but so far order prevails.
36 minutes ago via web

[pinboy3niner]

26. I could have sworn i saw you-know-who disparaging ffs...

...for looting Gaddafi's compound.

I guess Gaddafi propagandists will do what they gotta do...

:toast:

[joshcryer]

27. Really? I was wondering if that was going on since...

...so many of the Libyan Revolution bashers were defending the UK looters.

I was mostly ambivalent but I never criticized the UK looters outside of their lack of political background, if you look at the other article I posted about looting Gaddafi's compound they've already sent word out within all of the rebels that all of Gaddafi's compounds are free reign but to leave all other private property alone, etc. This makes it clear that there is in fact a political aspect to it.

Frankly I see nothing wrong with looting the Kings' possessions.

[joshcryer]

32. Meanwhile: Our fixer has just visited his house in Brega for first time in months; completely looted

http://twitter.com/#!/Jonny_Hallam/status/106662271178113024">@Jonny_Hallam
Jonny Hallam
Our fixer has just visited his house in brega for first time in months and found it has been completely looted. Everything gone.
10 minutes ago

Brega was under Gaddafi loyalist control for months, as you all know. Gaddafi loyalist cell phone video shows Brega http://youtu.be/AlYBQY0Bnbk">being looted.

[joshcryer]

29. NATO Joins Hunt for Qaddafi

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/world/africa/nato-joins-hunt-for-qaddafi-gadhafi-gaddafi.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto">NATO Joins Hunt for Qaddafi
TRIPOLI, Libya — NATO was reported on Thursday to be providing significant support in the hunt for Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi as rebels sought to cement their control, offering a nearly $2 million bounty for his capture and closing in on one of his last bastions of support, his birthplace in Surt.

The rebels claimed breakthroughs on other fronts, saying their fighters had started battling for Sabha, another of the colonel’s stronghold in the south, and in Zuwarah in the west, where they said they had captured a military base.

Unusually, Britain’s Defense Secretary, Liam Fox, said publicly on Thursday that NATO was trying to help the rebels locate the elusive and still defiant Colonel Qaddafi, apparently breaking from the frequent Western assertion that the alliance’s role is limited under its United Nations mandate to protecting civilians.

“I can confirm that NATO is providing intelligence and reconnaissance assets” to the insurgents “to help them track down Colonel Qaddafi and other remnants of the regime,” Mr. Fox told Sky News.

[joshcryer]

30. Libya's Gaddafi will try to sell Libyan gold

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/10113045/libyas-gaddafi-will-try-to-sell-libyan-gold-ex-central-banker/">Libya's Gaddafi will try to sell Libyan gold
MILAN (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi will try to sell part of Libya's gold reserves to pay for his protection and sow chaos among tribes in the north African country, said his former central bank governor Farhat Bengdara.

Bengdara, who has allied himself with the Libyan rebels, told the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, that an ally of Gaddafi had offered 25 tonnes of gold to his friend "a little time ago."

"My friend referred it to me and I suggested that he refuse and my friend immediately rejected the approach. But it is a clear indication," Bengdara said in the interview published on Thursday. He said his friend was not Libyan but gave no further details.

Wow. Beyond the pale.

[joshcryer]

34. Libya conflict: Kidnapped Italian journalists freed (raid, not freed willingly)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14662780">Libya conflict: Kidnapped Italian journalists freed
Four Italian journalists kidnapped and held by suspected loyalists of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi have been freed, according to Italy's foreign ministry.

The journalists were reportedly freed during a raid on the house in Tripoli in which they were being held.

They were abducted and their driver was killed on Wednesday west of the capital, the ministry had said.

One of them had told the Italian consul in Benghazi by phone that they were in good health.

[joshcryer]

35. Libya conflict: The dangers of war reporting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14662093">Libya conflict: The dangers of war reporting
The extreme dangers of war reporting have been highlighted by two incidents in the battle for Tripoli - the reports by Sky's Alex Crawford from a rebel convoy entering the capital, and the plight of other journalists trapped in the Rixos Hotel. Jon Williams, the BBC's foreign editor, has defended the corporation's coverage, after it was beaten into the Libyan capital at the weekend by Sky News, reports the Guardian.

On Radio 4's Media Show, he said war reporting was a combination of "luck and judgment". The paper says: "Williams applauded Crawford but said the BBC News team had made a judgment that it was not safe to travel with the convoy, while another of its reporters, Matthew Price, was holed up in the Rixos Hotel."

[joshcryer]

36. Libya rebels fight to capture loyalist-held cities

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/libya-rebels-fight-to-1139312.html">Libya rebels fight to capture loyalist-held cities
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyan rebels battled forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in the east Thursday and faced stubborn resistance in the capital as the opposition moved to assert control over the oil-rich country even as the longtime dictator remained at large.

The rebels have seized control of much of Tripoli as Gadhafi's 42-year regime crumbled, but the autocrat has refused to surrender and vowed from hiding to fight on "until victory or martyrdom."

The rebel leadership has offered a $2 million bounty on Gadhafi's head, and British Defense Secretary Liam Fox said Thursday that NATO was helping in the search for the maverick leader.

Fox said NATO was "providing intelligence and reconnaissance assets to help in the hunt," and had been heavily active in carrying out overnight airstrikes against Gadhafi loyalists, but refused to say if British special forces were involved.

[joshcryer]

37. The Arab League has given its full backing to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-25-2011-1336">The Arab League has given its full backing to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council
The Arab League has given its full backing to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and said it was time for Libya to take back its permanent seat on the League's council.

"We agreed that it is time for Libya to take back its legitimate seat and place at the Arab League. The NTC will be the legitimate representative of the Libyan state," Nabil Elaraby, the League's secretary-general, told reporters in Cairo.

The NTC's representative at the League, Abdelmoneim el-Houni, said Libya would resume its League membership at a meeting of Arab ministers on Saturday.

[joshcryer]

38. Gaddafi nearly captured on Wednesday: report

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/us-libya-gaddafi-commandos-report-idUSTRE77O2ZH20110825">Gaddafi nearly captured on Wednesday: report
Libyan commandos fighting Muammar Gaddafi came close to capturing the toppled leader on Wednesday when they raided a private home in Tripoli where he appeared to have been hiding, Paris Match magazine said on Thursday.

Citing a source in a unit which it said was coordinating among intelligence services from Arab states and Libyan rebels, the French weekly said on its website that these services believed Gaddafi was still somewhere in the Libyan capital.

[joshcryer]

39. Clashes as Libyan rebels try to press Gaddafi stronghold

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7JP1GI20110825">Clashes as Libyan rebels try to press Gaddafi stronghold
Libyan rebels clashed with troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi on Thursday as the rebels tried to put pressure on the last main bastion of Gaddafi's forces along the Mediterranean coast, a rebel spokesman said.

Rebels are approaching Sirte, Gaddafi's home town, from two sides and are hoping to negotiate the surrender of its defenders. But the rebels say Gaddafi's hardcore loyalists in the town 450 km (280 miles) east of Tripoli have vowed to fight to the death.

Shame, I was hoping a peaceful solution could be had.

GTG, might post in a bit after I eat breakfast.

For breakfast: a bunch of hot dogs on buns (no time to nuke anything).

[Iterate]

40. Liberation of the Abu Sleem Prison in Tripoli August 24, 2011

Liberation of the Abu Sleem Prison in Tripoli August 24, 2011 Liberation of the Abu Sleem Prison in Tripoli August 24, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCzQ_uXiVwc&feature=youtu.be

Do watch. There may be no better metaphor for the whole struggle.

[ellisonz]

81. CNN cut of the video w/translation.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/08/25/bs.libya.prisoners.release.cnn

[joshcryer]

41. Libyan rebels say Muammar Gaddafi surrounded

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/uk-libya-compound-gaddafi-idUKTRE77O40N20110825">Libyan rebels say Muammar Gaddafi surrounded
A group of rebels besieging a cluster of apartment buildings near the compound of Muammar Gaddafi said they believed the man who led Libya for four decades was hiding in the buildings with some of his sons.

Rebels were exchanging fire with Gaddafi loyalists inside the buildings. They did not say why they believed Gaddafi and his sons were inside.

"They are together. They are in a small hole," said one of the fighters involved in the battle, Muhammad Gomaa. "Today we finish. Today we will end that."

[tabatha]

43. dovenews Libyan™

i witness: Serbian security helped Mohammed Gaddafi to escape in 4 armored hummers. Al Arabya
17 minutes ago

Sabha: Large number of G mercenaries keep arriving 2 the city from #Sirte, aftr the fall of #Tripoli. #Sabha needs military reinforcements
2 hours ago

More #FF military reinforcements from #Zitan & #Misrata are still pouring in to the capital #Tripoli. #Libya
2 hours ago

Gaddafi forces executed 170 detainess in #Alyarmook military base, only 4 detainees mangd 2 escape 2 from #AzZwayia & 2 from #Hey#Alforjan
2 hours ago

#LIBYA just seen bodies of 15 men in hospital morgue. Staff say all the hallmarks of mass execution. via @baysontheroad
2 hours ago

SKYNEWS BREAKING! Reuters: Group of #FF besieging buildings near Bab Al-Aziziyah compound of Gaddafi said they believe the Colonel is inside
3 hours ago

Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday NATO must continue operations until the North African country was fully secured. #Libya
3 hours ago

#Sabha: No electricity, water, medical supply & life is dire, ppl dont even know that #Tripoli is liberated. #Sabha needs immediate help.
3 hours ago

Italian journalists are free
4 hours ago

.............................


LibyanLion17 A Free Libyan
Child on Sky News report - "Of course life will be better. We're going to get a new president who won't kill & steal." #Libya #Feb17
24 minutes ago

RRowleyTucson Robert Rowley
by hominoid555
Reports Sheikh Werfali has said that there was "going to be a surprise tonight in Martyrs Square which will shock #Gaddafi". #Libya #Feb17
16 minutes ago

JeffreyKofman Jeffrey Kofman
by EndTyranny101
As we drive through Tripoli, impressive to see virtually no looting. No police, but so far order prevails.
8 hours ago

ceoDanya Danya B Mohammed
by ears2dgrwnd
More than 50 bodies were found underground in #Gaddafi 's compound..They were executed. Just because they stood up against #GaddafiCrimes
4 hours ago

Modea Deejay
This is a URGENT CALL for all those who got contact with TNC military operations. We have received calls from friends asking for help in Salah eddin area ( Hai elzuhur close to Alquds Mosque ) there is mercenaries roaming around and people there are frightened and dont have weapons to defend..... Urgent call!!!! 3 min

If u trolls wonder why ur favorite pro-g-reporter Lizzie Phelan is silenced and had deleted ALL of her appearences on twitter and her blog:
finriswolf Hungry like me
Lizzie Phelan has been confronted with documentary proof of her being on #gaddafi payroll. Seems to have shut her up.

[MedleyMisty]

44. A poem by a Libyan

http://www.koussa.info/freelibya.html

To Free Libya, August 24, 2011

Today your eyes that never blinked are free,
Exhausted, bleeding Tripoli,
And now that you’re free, by God,
Your every breath paid full in blood,

Armchair pundits who at every chance,
Rehashed the “ragtag rebels” “slow advance”,
Tribal partition and stalemate,
Now want decide Free Libya’s fate!

ENOUGH!

Who paid in blood for every stride?!
So Libya does not divide?!
Whose unslept eyes beam out with pride?!
FREE LIBYA = LIBYANS’ TO DECIDE!


This is why I get so angry and feel a need to defend the Libyans every time someone starts going on about imperialism.

Libyans are badass and they aren't going to take anything from anyone, and they paid with their blood for their freedom and they are going to keep it.

[tabatha]

45. Hopefully, Moussa is going to have a book of his poems published.

"I hope you publish a book of epic Libyan poems."

"I am taking the task of publishing Moussa's works in a two-volume canon, the "Book of Moussa", and the "Book of Hen". It will be available electronically for $19.95, 50% of the proceeds to displaced Libyan animals and 50% wherever Moussa wants it to go. Be on the lookout :)"

"Moussa Koussa" is his nickname after the famous Moussa Koussa.

[tabatha]

46. Young Libyans on Thursday rescued four Italian journalists kidnapped near the Libyan capital

ANSA) - Rome, August 25 - Young Libyans on Thursday rescued four Italian journalists kidnapped near the Libyan capital Tripoli, the freed hostages said.

"Two young Libyan men saved us. We owe them everything," said Claudio Monici of the newspaper Avvenire, who was among the kidnapped who were held in the garage of a private home.

Monici, along with Corriere della Sera reporters Elisabetta Rosaspina and Giuseppe Sarcina and La Stampa's Domenico Quirico
were stopped by bandits in Tripoli Wednesday as they headed to their hotel in a pickup truck.

According to Monici, the bandits were enraged to find out that the journalists were Italian.

"You're bombing our city," they said, according to the Avvenire reporter.

Shortly after, their driver was "killed in cold blood" as they were kidnapped, the journalists said.

"He asked us to say farewell to his mother and father," said Monici. "He begged. I saw him moving his lips. Then they beat and shot him right before our eyes".

The journalists said the bandits robbed them of everything and fed them only water and biscuits during the ordeal that ended when two unidentified Libyan men stormed into the holding space and freed them.

Italian authorities neither confirmed nor denied the involvement of agents in the operation.

Italian television SkyTg24 reported that one of the journalists bore signs of injury to the face.

After being released, the journalists arrived at the Hotel Corinthia in Tripoli.

"I'm free, alive and kicking," said Quirico. "Just an hour ago I thought I was as good as dead".

http://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/notizia.php?IDNotizia=450877&IDCategoria=2694

[tabatha]

47. Today 12:06 PM Rebels Discover Supply Stockpile

Today 12:06 PM Rebels Discover Supply Stockpile

Reuters is reporting that rebels have discovered huge stockpiles of supplies hoarded by the Gaddafi regime. According to Reuters:"There will be no more problems with regard to food supplies, medicine supplies and fuel," National Transitional Council chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil told a news conference in the rebels' powerbase city of Benghazi in the east.

Sky News breaking: ENORMOUS stores of Food & Medicine have been recovered in #Tripoli Enough to feed 4 mill people-Enough medicine for a yr!


BENGHAZI, Libya | Thu Aug 25, 2011 12:50pm EDT

(Reuters) - Libyan rebel fighters have discovered huge stockpiles of food and medicine hoarded by Muammar Gaddafi's regime in Tripoli that will ease the country's shortages, the rebel council said on Thursday.

Rebels swept into the capital city earlier this week after a six-month uprising which restricted supply routes and caused dire shortages in parts of the country.

"There will be no more problems with regard to food supplies, medicine supplies and fuel," National Transitional Council chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil told a news conference in the rebels' power-base city of Benghazi in the east.

He said there was enough food in Gaddafi's Tripoli stash to feed a city twice its size -- its population is 2 million -- and enough medicine for the entire country for a year.

"Muammar Gaddafi intentionally prevented Libyans from getting to these supplies, making them live in hunger," he said, without giving further details on where the supplies were found or exactly what they contained.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/us-libya-stockpiles-idUSTRE77O5LK20110825

[Iterate]

48. Video: Inside Gaddafi’s Compound

Video: Inside Gaddafi’s Compound
Posted on August 24, 2011
Channel4 News
Tripoli is still ringing to the sound of gunfire – most of it celebration but there is also heavy fighting to the south, as forces loyal to Gaddafi refuse to give up.
http://feb17.info/media/video-inside-gaddafis-compound/

Raw Video: Underground Tunnel Found in Tripoli
Published on 25 Aug 2011 by AssociatedPress

An underground tunnel and residence has been found beneath Tripoli's Bab al-Aziziya compound, where rebel fighters found phones, beds, and other supplies. (Aug. 25)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX_vz32Aexc&sns=em

Libyan Revolution: Rebels explore Gaddafi's bunker
Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on 25 Aug 2011

Al Jazeera has gained access to part of an underground tunnel network beneath Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli.
Fighting for overall control of the area around Bab al-Aziziyah is still going on.
Our correspondent Andrew Simmons and cameraman Justin Okines, joined rebel fighters as they combed Gaddafi's underground hideouts.

http://youtu.be/bjbF7Zr0NS8

The first video is from yesterday, and others may be duplicates. I'm putting them here together with a note that the walls are banded different colors, as one would need to do with different segments and connecting passages.

[Iterate]

49. AI - Libya: Pursuing al-Gaddafi – the legal questions answered

Libya: Pursuing al-Gaddafi – the legal questions answered
Amnesty International 25 August 2011

What should happen to Colonel al-Gaddafi upon his capture?

Colonel al-Gaddafi must be given a fair trial. This is essential so that his victims in Libya can see justice being done. Everyone should be brought to justice, irrespective of their rank.

The UN Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in February. After a preliminary investigation, the ICC Prosecutor concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that al-Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and military intelligence chief Abdallah al-Sanussi have committed crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court and asked the ICC to issue arrest warrants against them. The three ICC arrest warrants issued on 27 June 2011 should be carried out immediately.

If any of the three are captured, they must be treated humanely and handed over safely and immediately to the ICC to face investigation.

What should al-Gaddafi be investigated for?

The ICC warrants cover two crimes against humanity – murder and persecution – committed since 15 February. A wave of killings and enforced disappearances of suspected critics of the government began in February following the start of anti-Gaddafi protests in Benghazi.

Libyan officials should also be held accountable for serious human rights violations committed before this year's uprising, some of which sparked the public demonstrations. The charges against Colonel al-Gaddafi do not cover the decades when security forces under his control tortured, killed and made people “disappear” with impunity. For example no official has ever been held to account for the deaths of up to 1,200 people in the infamous Abu Slim prison massacre in 1996.

How could human rights abuses committed before 15 February be dealt with?

The new Libyan leadership should swiftly rebuild its justice system to enable national courts to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law. This should also include crimes committed before 15 February, as well as those allegedly committed by persons who will not face investigation at the ICC.

The Libyan authorities may also wish to establish an independent commission of inquiry or a truth commission. Revealing the truth about past crimes and human rights violations would help to ensure victims of those crimes have access to justice and full reparations.

more... http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/libya-pursuing-al-gaddafi-%E2%80%93-legal-questions-answered-2011-08-25

Should he survive the coming battle, there is no reason he can't be tried for certain crimes in Libya, and crimes against humanity by the ICC. There look to be plenty of crimes to go around. This assumes of course that the current Libyan legal system can be turned around quickly and its conduct brought around to international norms.

[tabatha]

50. Survivor tells of mass killing

From inside a makeshift prison across the street from Muammar Gaddafi’s compound, Osama Mansour el-Hadi listened to the beginning of the end.

It was Tuesday, and rebels had begun to overrun the sprawling 6km-square complex, known as the Bab al-Aziziya, where Gaddafi’s palace and the homes of his innermost clique sat in a warren of offices and military bunkers.

Gunfire rang out, Hadi told Al Jazeera, and cries of “God is great!” echoed over the compound’s walls.

For many Libyans, it was a joyous moment; the most symbolic assault yet on the reviled regime that had shackled the country for more than 40 years.

But for Hadi and 25 other civilian men, held by armed Gaddafi loyalists at a rundown apartment building now serving as an warzone detention center, a horrific massacre was about to begin.

As machine gun and artillery fire engulfed at the compound across the street, the captors marched Hadi and the other men into the street at gunpoint. They were lined up with the walls of the Bab al-Aziziya behind them as the sounds of the regime’s downfall split the air.

Then Gaddafi’s gunmen opened fire, spraying a barrage of bullets into their captives’ heads, necks and chests.

Hadi collapsed into a pile of shuddering bodies, his shoulder, hand and right thigh shattered by bullets. Another prisoner escaped, Hadi said, and the murderers fled. As of Thursday, there had been no arrests or any known investigation into the grisly killing.



http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/2011825124015933314.html

[tabatha]

51. Battle for Bab Al-Aziziyah

FreeBenghazi Libya.elHurra
5:15min Thuwar use monster bulldozer (D12) to break down BabAlAziziyah's outer wall, rushing compound on foot #Libya
7 hours ago

http://youtu.be/eFGJehXigK4

Comment on AJE by a Libyan:

the neighbourhood the FF are driving thru w/ narrow streets in middle of video is the mansoura district...

built since the 40-50's...daffi had very near pland to have it bulldozed and residents relocated for the expansion of his compound....

looks like those plans are gone now, along w/him. but it does need upgrading, modernisation ; along w/ many other neighbourhoods/districts in due time.

[tabatha]

52. Gadaffi forces burn planes

An Almost new Afriqiyah Airbus aircraft burnt down in the battle for Tripoli airport. One airplane set on fire and another hit by Gaddafi forces are purposefully targeting them.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=195481487184342&set=a.134799406585884.28447.133738650025293&type=1&theater

GH:
the reason for the attack of the airport is simple
they need the gasolin for their escape,and they need the gold and euros hide in the building from daffis wife there
i estimate about 10 tons of gold and some milions they hide there since end of march ,delivered from the central bank to this place in 6 armoured transporters

[Iterate]

53. Libyans Paying A High Price For Liberation

Libyans Paying A High Price For Liberation
8:36pm UK, Thursday August 25, 2011
Ian Woods, senior correspondent, in Tripoli

When war is raging through your city, you are either fighting or enduring the hardships that it brings.

The people of Tripoli have either fled their homes if the fighting has come too close, or stayed indoors and prayed for a swift ending.

All of those who spoke to Sky News thought it was a price worth paying to get rid of a hated dictator.

Fatima Gamatti was flushing her toilet with a bucket of water when we called to see her. The power has been cut too.

Everyone in the area is struggling to get hold of food and then keep it fresh when the fridge doesn't work and the August temperature is 39C.

...

Video report... http://news.sky.com/home/article/16056965

[tabatha]

54. Other posts

Paul Danahar BBC Middle East bureau chief tweets: Tonight #Tripoli starting to return to normal. Some shops opening. Kids riding bikes in streets. Lot more relaxed #Libya #Gaddafi

Yesterday the AU didn't agree to release of funds to NTC; STRIKE ONE!
Today the AU doesn't agree to Somalia famine relief: STRIKE TWO!
Meanwhile the evil capitalist colonial crusaders are scrambling to save lives.

UPDATE:
Omar Almoktar by librev2011
BREAKING: #SouthAfrica finally agreed on releasing 1.5b $ to #libya aid. #feb17
Is this true? Zuma suddenly realising that he is going to be universally reviled - well too late mate!

UPDATE FROM GH:
some very nice guys with the orginal plans working in daffis tunnel-system now-
with night vision and other equippment .
i think daffi goons who meet them are not happy

the tunnel system is planed from germans(east) we size the duplikates from stasi 1989 ,all the plans going to nato.

Another poster: Planed and build by the Stassi. Just ask Marcus Wolf he knows

[ellisonz]

55. Libya conflict: British and French soldiers help rebels prepare Sirte attack

British and French special forces are on the ground in eastern Libya, calling in air strikes and helping co-ordinate rebel units as they prepare to assault Sirte, the last coastal town still in the hands of pro-Muammar Gaddafi forces, a rebel officer has told the Guardian.

The soldiers have taken a leading role not only in guiding bombers to blast a path for opposition fighters but also in planning the offensive that finally broke the six-month siege of Misrata, Mohammed Subka, a communications specialist in the Al Watum (My Home) brigade, said.

On Thursday afternoon, Subka and his unit waited at the rebel frontline, known as Kilometre Sixty, aboard a column of battered, black pickup trucks mounted with heavy machine guns and a few tanks recently captured from Gaddafi's forces.

"We are with the England team," he told the Guardian. "They advise us."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/25/libya-conflict-british-french-soldiers-rebels-sirte

[ellisonz]

56. OTTAWA — Libyan rebels have been coordinating their attacks using a Canadian-made, unmanned surveill

A compact drone made by Aeryon weighs just 3 pounds.

David Kroetsch, the president and chief executive of the manufacturer, Aeryon Labs of Waterloo, Ontario, said in an interview that his company was first approached by a representative of the Libyan Transitional National Council early in June, after members of the group searching the Web saw the company’s surveillance aircraft — essentially a tiny, four-rotor helicopter dangling a pod carrying stabilized-image day- and night-vision cameras.

The drone is extremely compact — the company says that it weighs about three pounds and fits into a backpack — and its operator does not need any knowledge of flight. Mr. Kroetsch said such factors were crucial for the rebels. The device is simply controlled by tracing flight paths on maps displayed on a touch screen display. Its base price is $120,000.

“They knew that they needed air support of some kind because they were fighting blind on the ground,” Mr. Kroetsch said. “But they couldn’t afford helicopters.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/world/africa/25canada.html?_r=1

[pinboy3niner]

57. Purported Gadhafi message: Don't 'surrender' Tripoli

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Empty plane struck by Gadhafi loyalists at airport

• Another apparent Gadhafi audio message is aired

• "Libya is for you," not for France or Sarkozy, the speaker says

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 25, 2011 3:39 p.m. EDT


Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Another audio message purported to be from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi surfaced Thursday, with the speaker exhorting his followers to fight back and not "surrender Tripoli."


"Tripoli is for you, men and women," the speaker said. "Go out, go out and free Tripoli. Destroy them wherever they are, fight them. Let the crowds from everywhere march to Tripoli."


The speaker added, "Libya is for you" and not for France or its president, Nicolas Sarkozy. France is a leader in the NATO mission in Libya.


"Do not leave Tripoli for the rats, do not leave them. Fight them, destroy them. You are the overwhelming majority, you have marched in millions. March with the same millions but fight this time. Fill the streets and the fields," the speaker said. Gadhafi has previously described his adversaries as rats.


"Do not be afraid of bombing, you will not be hit. Do not be afraid at all. They are just stun grenades to scare you. Do not be afraid at all, do not surrender Tripoli."

...


http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/25/libya.war/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

[tabatha]

59. I bet his words are falling on deaf ears

More on the amateur footage, allegedly from the Abu Salim prison in Tripoli. A man purportedly involved in the prison-break told Sky News that as security officials left the prison they said: "If you can, break out, break whatever you can." The prison has held many opponents of Gaddafi over the years.

[pinboy3niner]

60. I'd guess Gaddafi's credibility with his followers has suffered

They've lived in an alternate reality in which all of their information has come from him and everything else is lies.

The situation of the guards at the Rixos was interesting. All they knew was Gaddafi's lies, and at the end they were isolated from the city around them and didn't know what was happening. They probably still believed that thousands of tribe members were coming to Tripoli and that the city was ringed by Gaddafi's 'female brigades.' It took a lot for the captive journalists to finally get through to them.

With the ffs now in Tripoli, the people can see what is happening. No, I don't think he'll have many takers.

btw, I saw one freed prisoner inteviewed on CNN who'd been held so long that he did not even remember how long it was.

[pinboy3niner]

58. TNC announces they have moved to Tripoli

Breaking, CNN (Sara Sidner), following NTC news conference there.

[tabatha]

62. GH: the final act

all the people in libya love daffi now and want to invite him for playing slapp the daffi.
good night now
we see us tomorrow for the last act

[tabatha]

61. Libya ambassador’s ‘double-agent’ role throughout revolution

“I have carried my cross” - Libyan ambassador to Malta Saadun Suayeh in exclusive interview with MaltaToday, reveals his ‘double-agent’ role with the Gaddafi regime during the revolution.

Saadun Suayeh, the last ambassador of the Libyan state under deposed dictator Col. Muammar Gaddafi, says he is “relieved” to be able to finally talk about his role during the past six months, during which his people launched a revolution to oust Gaddafi.

Now back at the Libyan people’s embassy that flies the Libyan - and not the Green - flag on the roof, Saadun Suayeh greets me in his office now ornate in the crescent-clad green, black and red flag.

He reveals that he stayed on as ambassador because he knew that the regime would have to come through him for whatever was needed, and in fact it did.

“Tripoli had even sent over two ‘diplomats?? to oversee what I was doing here, and I managed to skive them and secretly meet with representatives of the Benghazi-based Transitional National Council, during which meeting we shared information and worked on strategies on the way forward.

In an interview with MaltaToday on Sunday, Suayeh reveals how he deceived Tripoli into passing on sensitive information on important cargo that was to be received by the regime.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/ambassadors-double-agent-role-libyas-revolution

[tabatha]

63. Gaddafi's desperate bid to save regime revealed

The Gaddafi regime carried out an extraordinary clandestine lobbying operation to try to stop Nato's bombardment of Libya, and believed the western allies were likely to launch a full-scale invasion in "either late September or October".

Secret documents in Tripoli seen by the Guardian reveal the desperate attempts made by the Libyan government in its final months to influence US and world opinion. It approached key international opinion formers – from the US president Barack Obama downwards.

The regime tried to persuade the Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich – a well-known rebel who voted against Nato military action in Libya, and opposed the Iraq war – to visit Tripoli as part of a hastily arranged "peace mission". The Libyan government offered to pay all Kucinich's costs related to the trip, including "travel expenses and accommodation".

On 22 June a letter sent to Libya's prime minister, Al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi, by a US-based lobbyist for the regime, Sufyan Omeish, noted that Kucinich was "concerned that his personal safety in Tripoli could not be guaranteed". He preferred to conduct meetings with regime officials outside Libya. The plan was for Kucinich to meet "senior Libyan officials, including Gaddafi". The proposed trip never took place. Kucinich visited Syria instead.

He confirmed the invitation and said he had discussed it directly with the Libyan prime minister, but ultimately declined because of security concerns.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/25/libya-letters-gaddafi-nato-obama

[Iterate]

64. Zuwara

City of Zuwara victim of retaliation & shelling by Gaddafi's militias | AlAan 24-8-2011 (Arabic)
http://youtu.be/DYI6GGUdvNo

Translation:
Uploaded by ImazighenLibya on 25 Aug 2011

Libya, Libye, 24 August 2011, Al Aan TV, Since five days, the coastal western city of Zuwarah (Amazigh berber population) (http://g.co/maps/s8wc) is under siege, and is the victim of indiscriminate shelling from Gaddafi's batallions respectively concentrated in the cities of Al Jamil, Regdaline, on the main road between Sabratah and Zuwarah, and in Ras Ejjdir (Tunisian border).

The local civilian population has not been provided either with weapons nor substantive support from Revolutionary forces, all concentrated in Tripoli and busy in hunting down Gaddafi and his gangs.

Othman Ben Sassi, member of the NTC, in a interview with Al Aan TV, confirms that several messages have been sent to both NATO and the NTC in Benghazi to take action for providing support to local population exposed daily to shelling perpetrated by Gaddafi's gangs and militias, using GRAD BM21 and 27 rockets.

Mr. Ben Sassi also outlines the strategic importance of the western city of Zuwarah disposing of a port and an airport that can used as logistic hub for the western part of Libya and he insists on the urgency to liberate the border with Tunisia to allow injured population to access to medical treatment (there is no hospital in Zuwarah since 37 years upon instructions from Gaddafi regime who wanted to punish the population of this city know for their opposition to the regime), and allow Libyans who have taken refuge in Tunisia to come back to Libya an join final effort to complete the liberation of their city.

Mr. Ben Sassi finally confirms that since one week no action have been taken by the NTC to examine this issue, and he reminds that according to Resolution 1973, the NATO forces are compelled to provide civilians with adequate protection and shall intervene to prevent continuation of such attacks on the civlian population.

Qaddafi Loyalists Take Stand in Zwara
12:07 PM, Aug 24, 2011 • By ANN MARLOWE

Zwara, Libya—The coastal city of Zwara, near the Libya-Tunisia border, is under siege by pro-Qaddafi forces who continue to shell the city and appear to be the last of Qaddafi’s forces still fighting in Libya.

The area between Zwara and Sabratha was the under control of revolutionary forces as of yesterday evening, including an important gas plant that supplies electricity to the region. Qaddafi’s forces have destroyed the Zwara water treatment plant, and continue to attack civilian targets. Four people were killed yesterday, and 2 rebel fighters and an unknown number of civilians have been killed today.

Rebel fighters in Zwara have been reinforced by 160 Zwara men who were in exile in Tunisia until returning by sea yesterday. The commanding officer of the revolutionary forces in Zwara, Senussi Mohammed, has been trying to reach NATO to call up an airstrike against the Qaddafi loyalists, which include a brigade commanded by Khalid Kweily.

Senussi has offered Qaddafi’s forces amnesty if they cease fighting, but they have refused, and refuse to even come to the table to negotiate. One witness, Juma Devan, speculated that fifty percent are still fighting because they are brainwashed true believers in Qaddafi, and the other fifty percent are fighting out of ethnic hatred for Zwarans, who are Berbers.

Right now, the Libya-Tunisia border near Zwara is also occupied by Qaddafi’s forces.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/qaddafi-s-last-stand_591333.html

Last night Nato bombed the nearby military base and I saw a MSM report that it had been taken by FFs, but now of course can't possibly remember where it came from. At any rate, that story isn't in the tweets. The city is still surrounded on three sides and being shelled.

moooonlight22 Libya Free Forever.
@NATO @NATOpress freedom fighters &National army are on the way to #Zuwara w Artillery #Libya. 22 hours ago

4Adam Adam Libya
RT @feb17voices: AJA NTC rep of Zwara: the city is controlled by the opposition forces, but it is surronded by G forces: they're shelling it 3 hours ago

dovenews Libyan™
#Zwara is besieged for 4days by Gaddafi forces. 25 people were injured in the last few days. #Zwara #Libya 3 hours ago

No news today from Ajeilat.

[tabatha]

65. Gaddafi's Hat - Noy Alooshe (Freedom Fighters Remix)

http://youtu.be/yzGMug7RMvQ

TOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOL !

New remix by the guy who made the "Zenga Zenga Song"

[ellisonz]

68. Oh my goodness..

:toast:

[Iterate]

72. Mockery -

a good theme for a whole thread. Potent stuff.

Endless variants, like this one:
Gaddafi-Zenga Song-zanga zanga song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVewbvGayGo&feature=related

Another thread theme: crazy shit done by the FFs:
FF climbs a tower near Brega
http://youtu.be/0UEvVivumn8

Another thread theme as well, for the historical record mind you, "Quotes from people who were completely wrong".

[pinboy3niner]

75. Love it!

Cool and :rofl: !

[Turborama]

95. "Ohohohoh Myyyy GohohohD!

Excellent find! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

:rofl:

[tabatha]

66. Covert teams from NATO members "provided critical assistance" to Libyan rebels

From Lolita C. Baldor and Slobodan Lekic, the AP: As the battle in Libya appeared at stalemate, it was an open secret that foreign military advisers were working covertly inside the country providing guidance to rebels and giving tactical intelligence to NATO aircraft bombing government forces.

Diplomats say members of the alliance and partners in the Middle East were engaged in an undercover campaign on the ground in Libya. The operation was kept separate from the NATO command structure to avoid compromising its mandate from the United Nations — to protect civilians. . . .

Diplomats acknowledge that covert teams from France, Britain and some East European states provided critical assistance.

The assistance included logisticians, security advisers and forward air controllers for the rebel army, as well as intelligence operatives, damage assessment analysts and other experts, according to a diplomat based at NATO's headquarters in Brussels. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

http://acus.org/natosource/covert-teams-nato-members-provided-critical-assistance-libyan-rebels

[tabatha]

67. Former Gaddafi no.2 will form political party

25 Aug 2011
Muammar Gaddafi’s onetime right-hand man Abdel Salam Jalloud said tonight he plans to form a secular political party with an eye towards future elections in Libya.

Jalloud was a member of the junta that staged the 1969 coup that brought Gaddafi to power. He was seen as Gaddafi’s second-in-command but fell out of favour with him several years ago.

Jalloud defected to the revolutionaries before they overran most of the capital Tripoli on Tuesday, forcing Gaddafi into hiding.

He told journalists in Rome that it was up to Libyans to decide if he should join a future government and that he had discussed, largely with groups in southern and western Libya, plans for a new party.“We have agreed to form a political party, but we haven’t openly discussed it so far because we’re still in talks with political forces in the east,” Jalloud said.“

It will be a nationalist, liberal, secular party.”It will try to build a strong civil society with a free press and an independent judiciary and be led by young Libyans between the ages of 25-50, he said.The party, which does not have a name yet, would embrace a socialist system for the economy and also focus on women.

Jalloud said he had broken with Gaddafi years ago and was kept under watch but that he was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment, including a trip to France a few months ago.“He was a tyrant, a pharaoh,” Jalloud said of Gaddafi. “He was one who managed the state like he wanted.”

Jalloud said he suspected Gaddafi was either hiding in southern Tripoli and would try escaping disguised as a woman, or was near the Algerian border or in his hometown of Sirte with the aim of crossing the desert into a country like Chad.“Noone knows where Gaddafi is but in the last few months he was on the move continuously, one night he would sleep in a hospital and another night in a mosque,” he said.

Seems as though only Fox has picked it up so far
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/25/qaddafis-ex-aide-eyes-role-in-post-qaddafi-libya/

[pinboy3niner]

69. LIBYAN REVOLUTION DAY 190: CURRENT TIME IN LIBYA = 12:20 AM THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

Libya time = EDT +6 hours, PDT +9 hours, UTC +1 hour, GMT +2 hours

[ellisonz]

70. Gaddafi's Secret Police HQ Seized

16 min 39 sec ago - Libya

The headquarters of Libya's intelligence services - a notorious symbol of Muammar Gaddafis 42-year rule - is now firmly in rebel hands.

Detailed reports on anyone opposing him would come directly to this building. Parts of the compound also served as a prison, with secret cells housing many Libyans that the regime would make disappear.

The building is full of confidential documents that could provide a valuable insight into what was one of the world's most secretive regimes. But it will take weeks to sift through.

Jamal Elshayyal reports from Tripoli in this Al Jazeera Exclusive.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aY-6Q0F1kE&feature=player_embedded#!

[ellisonz]

71. CNN's Arwa Damon explores Gaddafi's purported RV - Gaddafi's Farm Under Rebel Control

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/08/25/damon.gadhafi.rv.cnn

[pinboy3niner]

73. American held months in solitary will stay in Libya 'to see the end of Gaddafi'

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Matthew VanDyke had been in solitary confinement since March

• He was arrested in the Libyan city of Brega

• He was freed Wednesday along with hundreds of others from a prison in Tripoli

• The Baltimore resident is a freelance journalist and writer

American held in solitary escapes Tripoli prison


By Brian Walker and Phil Gast, CNN

August 25, 2011 1:37 p.m. EDT


(CNN) -- After months of psychological torment by guards loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, when a commotion arose outside the door of his solitary confinement cell in Tripoli's most notorious prison, Matthew VanDyke was sure he was going to be executed.

...


Early Wednesday in Tripoli, he said, he heard prisoners yelling and shouting and banging, not unlike the sounds he had heard as guards rousted out other prisoners during his six months of solitary confinement. As he stared at the white walls where he had ticked off the days until he lost track, he thought, "This is it, they've come to lynch me."

...


"I saw some other prisoners and they were cheering and pointing down the hall," said an exhausted VanDyke. "I knew I was free, but didn't know what to do or what was going on."

...


"Despite everything, I have no problems with Libyans," VanDyke said, describing his safety and plans in Tripoli. "But I'll be determined to stay here to see the end of Gadhafi."


http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/08/25/libya.freed.american/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

[tabatha]

74. NTC moving offices to Tripoli

Libya’s National Transitional Council is moving to start governing Libya from the capital Tripoli, a council official said this evening.

“I proclaim the beginning of the resumption of the work of the executive office in Tripoli,” said Ali Tarhouni, the official in charge of financial and oil matters.

Asked if he was officially announcing that the National Transitional Council (NTC) intended governing Libya from Tripoli, he said: “Yes I am.”

It was the first time officials from the NTC were seen in the capital taking up the reins of government, after revolutionary fighters swept into the city four days ago toppling Muammar Gaddafi. Among those with Tarhouni were Mohammed Al Alaghi, NTC minister of Justice and Mahmud Shammam, minister of information.

“Half of the government is here, and today we have had meetings with the military leadership,” Shamman told AFP.

“At least eight members have already arrived. All major posts are here,” including health, communications, interior, justice, information and defence, he said.

http://english.libya.tv/2011/08/26/ntc-moving-offices-to-tripoli/

[tabatha]

76. Libya: Gaddafi regime atrocities revealed

25 August 2011 Last updated at 17:48 ET Help

As the Libyan capital falls from the Gaddafi regime's grasp, evidence is emerging that the government dealt ruthlessly with its opponents.

Atrocities appear to have been carried out by Gaddafi's forces in the days before the fall of Tripoli.

Heavy fighting has continued in parts of the the city, which is now almost entirely in the hands of rebel fighters.

John Simpson reports.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14673864

[pinboy3niner]

77. Journalist won Gadhafi gunman over: 'In the end, we're all human'

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• CNN producer helped negotiate end to crisis at Tripoli's Rixos Hotel

• All 36 journalists were freed unharmed

• CNN correspondent Matthew Chance called home to say his goodbyes

• Gunmen turned over weapons Wednesday: "You can go now."

Some of the journalists pose after their release. CNN producer Jomana Karadsheh stands in the center.



By Wayne Drash, CNN

August 25, 2011 5:17 p.m. EDT


(CNN) --

...


Chance phoned his mother and wife to tell them what to do with his remains.

...


Chance watched nearby as his colleague talked with the guard. "I watched this transformation these guys made from being Gadhafi hardliners to realizing that his regime was a historically past moment. That was a remarkable transition to witness.


"I think it's the most moving part of this whole crisis."


Says Karadsheh: "In the end, we're all human. And that's what this was about, connecting with him as a human."

...


On Thursday, the day after her release, she did the unthinkable. She returned to the hotel to gather her personal belongings.


"I got a bit freaked out when we got close," she said. "But the first thing I saw was a rebel flag hanging on the Rixos. I felt comfortable."


http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/25/libya.freed.journalists/index.html?hpt=wo_t1

[Amonester]

93. Did he sing "All we are saying, is give peace a chance"? ;-)

So glad they're all OK.

http://www.october2011.org">HEY GUYS: NEXT ASSIGNMENT HERE!

[tabatha]

78. Germs and rats

From CNN interview with Faoud Ajami (Stanford)


"Assad's name for the protesters has been "germs". A new poster seen in Syria: Syria's Germs Salute Libya's Rats!"


He also said that Gaddafi is known to be terrified of flying, especially over oceans. He prefers terra firma or under it;
may explain his use of the term "rats"

[tabatha]

79. Children 'among 180 slaughtered'

A group of about 180 civilian prisoners, seven of them children, were massacred by Gadhafi forces earlier this week, one of the survivors has told The Daily Telegraph.

The slaughter took place on Tuesday at the al-Yarmouk military base in the suburbs of Tripoli, according to the survivor, Abdulatti Musbah Haleem.

Gadhafi troops and Tuareg mercenary fighters attacked a group of 200 prisoners with rifles, machine guns and hand-grenades, he said, leaving the bodies on the ground.

Rebels said Gadhafi troops later tried to burn the bodies to destroy the evidence.

Mr Haleem, a 43-year-old cement buyer from Zliten, near Misurata, said he was captured by Gadhafi forces near the town last week. He was carrying a gun for protection but was not fighting, he said.

While in captivity in Zliten, he was subjected to days of torture, with burns and the marks of shackles clearly visible as he lay at the Tripoli Medical Centre hospital.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Children+among+slaughtered/5308114/story.html#ixzz1W5nWYRUz

[ellisonz]

80. Witnessning Tripoli Violence

Residents of the Mansoura neighborhood in Tripoli recount the violence they have seen. ITN's Lindsey Hilsum reports.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/08/25/hilsum.libya.neighborhood.itn

More evidence of mass executions by Gaddafi fighters.

[pinboy3niner]

82. Rebels fight for control of Tripoli district

Source: Al Jazeera

Intense fighting rages in Abu Salim neighbourhood as the hunt for Muammar Gaddafi continues.

Last Modified: 25 Aug 2011 21:11


Rebels have stormed a Tripoli neighbourhood, considered a stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi, amid heavy fighting with forces loyal to the Libyan leader who is currently on the run.


"Rebels have managed to enter the Abu Salim neighbourhood; clashes are taking place and rebels are pushing very hard," Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr said, reporting from Tripoli on Thursday.


Hundreds of rebels were battling Gaddafi loyalists who have been defending Abu Salim with heavy firepower, she said.


Rebel fighters swept through houses and side streets to flush out snipers and were emerging with dozens of prisoners as gunfights were going on, the Reuters news agency reported.


Local residents, some with children, were in cars trying to get out of the neighbourhood, where support for Gaddafi has traditionally been strong, the report stated.

...

Story and video report from Zeina Khodr (0:45):
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/2011825203638198292.html

[pinboy3niner]

83. UN calls for restraint in Libya

Source: BBC

25 August 2011 Last updated at 20:29 ET


The United Nations has called on all sides in the Libyan conflict to take steps to ensure there are no acts of violence and revenge.


It comes as reports emerge of abuses and alleged summary killings by both rebels and troops loyal to Col Gaddafi.


The UN has also agreed to release $1.5bn (£1bn) in Libyan assets - which had been frozen under sanctions - to help with immediate humanitarian needs.

...


UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville said it was difficult to confirm reports of summary killings and torture, but said such incidents would be investigated by the existing Commission of Inquiry on Libya.

...


Earlier this week, the NTC's chairman, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, urged rebels not to engage in revenge attacks against pro-Gaddafi fighters, threatening to resign if his warning was not heeded.

...


Full story and a video report on "the last crimes of the Gaddafi regime" (3:30):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14674390

[joshcryer]

84. How the Libyan rebels bought a miniature drone on the Internet

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/libyan-rebels-bought-miniature-surveillance-drone-internet-213029799.html">How the Libyan rebels bought a miniature drone on the Internet
Although Libyan rebels have been celebrating their advance into the capital of Tripoli this week, just a few weeks ago, they had a problem. Outgunned and poorly trained, Libya's ragtag opposition was the object of pitying--if not unsympathetic--reports by the journalists covering their seemingly hapless efforts to advance and hold ground against Gadhafi's professional forces, who were better trained and better equipped.

Naturally, the rebels turned to the Internet for help. In June, members of the Libyan National Transition Council were "searching the Web," the New York Times reports, where they found information about a surveillance drone--"essentially a tiny, four-rotor helicopter dangling a pod carrying stabilized-image day- and night-vision cameras"--made by Aeryon Labs of Waterloo, Ontario.

$100,000-200,000 is obscene though. I could build one of those for a fraction of the cost.

Here's the video of them explaining their technology: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ3hEt0EOkc

[tabatha]

85. Plans A, B, C

http://youtu.be/v1pii74oODE

[Amonester]

94. There are 'heartless sc*ms' everywhere, isn't it.

And that one is their prince. :puke:

[tabatha]

86. Libyan rebels claim control of Tripoli airport

The charred remains of planes are visible on the runway as one of the rebel leaders Abdul Salam Sakali explains that though they have secured the airport pro-Gaddafi forces were still trying to attack.

“They started shooting at planes and totally destroyed one and another was also hit. He keeps on trying in the evening to target the planes,” said Mr Sakali.

Libyan Airlines and Afriqiya planes were destroyed in the fighting but Mr Sakali said the airport was now safely in rebel hands.

“This area is totally secured and under control of the rebels. Airport officials can come and operate the airport as of today,” he explained.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8722493/Libyan-rebels-claim-control-of-Tripoli-airport.html

[ellisonz]

87. Rebel Campaign in Southern Libya Ongoing

1 hour 33 min ago - Libya
Libyan rebels claimed to have captured the desert post of Al-Wyg in the southern Sahara, near the borders with Niger and Chad, on Thursday. "We have taken control of Al-Wyg," a rebel spokesman, Mohammed Wardougou, said in the insurgents' bastion of Benghazi, stressing it was "strategic" because it had a landing strip.

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya

[pinboy3niner]

88. Syrian protesters chant "Bye Gaddafi, Bashar next"

Posted in LBN by Turborama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4974134

[joshcryer]

89. The birth of free Libya

http://www.economist.com/node/21526959">The birth of free Libya
WESTERN governments could hardly have hoped for a better finale. Libyans themselves finished off the regime’s reign in the capital, enabling NATO to retreat to the wings and refute the last flourish of the colonel’s spokesman, Musa Ibrahim, delivered on a crackly radio, that the conquest was the work of imperialism. Liberation came from the west, not the east, allaying Tripoli’s fears of a Benghazi takeover. The doomsday scenarios of a bloody civil war in the streets proved mercifully overblown.

Colonel Muammar Qaddafi had fled his headquarters at Bab al-Aziziya. Rebels, denied their ultimate prize of his head, made do with kicking a gold-plated replica they found in the grounds, posing on the iconic statue of a fist grasping an American fighter jet (see picture) and torching his ceremonial tent. The last big battle occurred on the highway between Zawiya and Tripoli. The city itself escaped largely unscarred, the glass blocks housing the capital’s banks continuing to gleam unshattered. Rebel radio issued incessant calls against looting government buildings (they are your buildings, said the announcer, to the soothing strains of a twangy southern guitar), against harming captured prisoners and, optimistically in a capital now awash with arms of all kinds, against using guns to settle old scores.

After Tripoli most other fronts appeared to crumble. Rebel forces from the east overcame loyalist fighters who had hemmed them in for months outside Brega and pushed on to Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, whose tribesmen had hitherto remained loyal. Sirte, the stronghold of Colonel Qaddafi’s tribe on the coast, continued to stay the eastern advance to the capital. But loyalist forces are squeezed in a receding central buffer from Sirte on the coast to Sebha in the desert. Even in Sebha, the ancestral home of Abdullah el-Sanussi, the bully who headed the regime’s intelligence, rebels attempted an uprising, but not in sufficient numbers to dislodge the Megraha, one of the last loyal tribes.

[pinboy3niner]

90. More than 120 believed killed by Gaddafi mercenaries in Tripoli's Mansoura district

This disturbing report by Channel 4's International Editor Lindsey Hilsum includes reports of three civilians who were beaten, then shot in the head and left to die on the sreet after they approached a government checkpoint carrying the rebel flag.


At another Gaddafi stronghold, the sports center next door where Gaddafi supporters would gather, Hilsum finds a "patch of blood on the ground and and a terrible smell," and hears reports of a refrigerated truck found there with bodies inside.


And a local resident of the district, Munir El Goula, tells of being held prisoner and watching in horror as mercenaries killed at least 20 soldiers and more than 100 prisoners in their cells with gunfire and grenades. Munir managed to escape with his brother, and he can barely manage to tell the story through his tears.


"What happened here," Hilsum says, "will never be forgotten."


Watch the video report (3:21):
http://bcove.me/t14o3mgg

[joshcryer]

91. Gadhafi's compound has vast underground network of tunnels, bunkers

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/25/3314658/gadhafis-compound-has-vast-underground.html">Gadhafi's compound has vast underground network of tunnels, bunkers
TRIPOLI, Libya -- Beneath the grassy courtyard of Moammar Gadhafi's private compound, long tunnels connect bunkers, command centers and spiral staircases that lead to a luxurious home filled with Gadhafi family photos.

The electric lights are out, and the telephones have gone dead.

When rebels took over the compound Tuesday, they discovered what had long been rumored: an elaborate secret underground network.

Outsiders had never seen the tunnels beneath the Bab al-Aziziya compound. Many Libyans assume that underground passages connect all of Tripoli -- which they say explains Gadhafi's ability to appear for speeches in places where no one saw him arrive. Some guess he fled through one of the tunnels as the rebels swept into Tripoli.

[tabatha]

92. A Double Agent in Gadhafi Camp

By CHARLES LEVINSON And MARGARET COKER

TRIPOLI, Libya—For more than five months in a city locked down by forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi, regime opponents in Tripoli's Fashloom neighborhood relied on a fellow resistance leader who told them with uncanny accuracy how to evade security sweeps and tipped them off to impending raids against them.

On Thursday, as a rebel advance broke Col. Gadhafi's grip over his capital, the man identified himself to those beyond his underground cell: He is Mahmoud Ben Jumaa, a senior officer in Col. Gadhafi's personal security force.

....

In contrast with the revolution in neighboring Egypt, which was led by youthful revolutionaries, government and business leaders like Mr. Ben Jumaa played an apparently pivotal role in the Libyan uprising. Their apparent buy-in and leadership suggests that Libya's transition to a post-Gadhafi democracy may prove smoother than Iraq's efforts to reestablish order in the wake of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that was broadly opposed by the country's ruling Baathists.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904875404576530700997174360.html

BETTER SOURCE - no googling necessary
http://shabablibya.org/news/a-double-agent-in-gadhafi-camp

[pinboy3niner]

96. Armchair Generals...

Thanks to Josh for finding this! :toast:

[joshcryer]

98. Credit goes to n2doc for their daily toons:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1811992

:hi:

(Yeah, yeah, starting another thread soon...)

[pinboy3niner]

101. Thanks for the link, I missed that thread

I'm going to post another one of those soon.

And I didn't say a word (or post Jimmy's pic, either). :)

[tabatha]

97. When You Capture that Gadhafi Clown, Put One More In Him For African Brothas and Sistas

As an African-American, do you notice something weird about this Libya thing? Do you notice that you are mostly hearing a fringed group of African-Americans sitting up here trying to defend Gadhafi? Do you notice that no one in Africa or the Middle East is defending this Gadhafi character but we got African-Americans all the way over here in the USA trying to defend this guy? Weird, ain’t it? That’s because the Black people over in Africa know full well Gadhafi financed brutal rebel groups over the past several decades to wage civil war in West Africa and prevent the progress towards free Black nations and this is a fact.

You got brothas and sistas calling these radio stations talking some dumb sh*t about how Gadhafi gives his people money to pay rent or some of the oil money or all of that other crap – that is exactly what dictators been doing since the Roman Era of tyrants so what the f*ck are these fringed African-Americans trying to brag about Gahdafi again? This dude helped financed everything from the civil war in Liberia and Sierra Leone and supported other brutal African dictators with financing and arms for the sole purpose of keeping African nations under tyrant rule. And if you are an African-American, those nations and those people Gahdafi was financing civil wars is where your DNA came from before being shipped here to America on slave ships.

I’m personally shocked a certain American Muslim Black leader some people admire and his group would have the gall to sit there and try to publicly defend this Gahdafi guy knowing his history and involvement towards keeping Black African nations in a perpetual state of civil war. And here is the thing – if Gahdafi was such a great leader, then he wouldn’t have to order his troops to shoot upon demonstrators, would he? Isn’t that what started this whole episode some cats want to claim about in terms of US involvement? So if Gahdafi quick to shoot on his own people, what makes you think he wasn’t quick to throw money at rebel groups to keep West Africa in chaos and disarray?

http://www.dreamandhustle.com/6657/when-you-capture-that-gadhafi-clown-put-one-more-in-him-for-african-brothas-and-sistas/

[Name removed]

106. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tabatha]

99. Rebels tell story of plan to take Tripoli

BENGHAZI, Libya -- They called it Operation Mermaid Dawn, a stealth plan coordinated by sleeper cells, Libyan rebels, and NATO to snatch the capital from the Moammar Gadhafi's regime's hands. It began three months ago when groups of young men left their homes in Tripoli and traveled to train in Benghazi with ex-military soldiers. After training in Benghazi, the men would return to Tripoli either through the sea disguised as fishermen or through the western mountains.

"They went back to Tripoli and waited; they became sleeper cells," said military spokesman Fadlallah Haroun, who helped organize the operation.

He said that many of the trained fighters also stayed in the cities west of Tripoli, including Zintan and Zawiya, and waited for the day to come to push into the capital. Operation Mermaid Dawn began on the night of August 21 and took the world by surprise as the rebels sped into the capital and celebrated in Green Square with almost no resistance from pro-Gadhafi forces.

But why did the armed Gadhafi troops melt away when the rebels drove through? Fathi Baja, head of the rebel leadership's political committee, said it was all thanks to a deal cut with the head of the batallion in charge of protecting Tripoli's gates, the Mohammed Megrayef Brigade. His name was Mohammed Eshkal and he was very close to Gadhafi and his family. Baja said Gadhafi had ordered the death of his cousin twenty years ago.

"Eshkal carried a grudge in his heart against Gadhafi for 20 years, and he made a deal with the NTC - when the zero hour approached he would hand the city over to the rebels," said Haroun. "Eshkal didn't care much about the revolution," said Haroun. "He wanted to take a personal revenge from Gadhafi and when he saw a chance that he will fall, he just let it happen."

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/08/24/general-ml-libya-mermaid-dawn_8639450.html

[inna]

100. too late to unrec, sorry.

[pinboy3niner]

102. Where is Muammar?

:rofl:

[pinboy3niner]

103. Libyan rebels storm Gaddafi stronghold area

Source: Al Jazeera

Situation in capital volatile as rebels sweep into Abu Salim neighbourhood to clear pockets of resistance.

Last Modified: 26 Aug 2011 06:56


Libya's rebels have stepped up their assault on the capital Tripoli, storming the Abu Salim neighbourhood as they continue to clear pockets of resistance in what is seen as the last stronghold of Muammar Gaddafi.


Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Tripoli on Friday morning, described the situation as "volatile and fluid", adding that "it's difficult to give a good overview".


"It's quite a hard place to get around because of the checkpoints and because of flash points," he said.


"Overall the last 24 hours have been a little more peaceful than the previous 24 hours. In most of the city things seem to be improving.


"But there are these flash points, like Abu Salim, where there are Gaddafi loyalists and where there have been opposition forces going there to ... clear those Gaddafi loyalists and there have been some heavy gun battles."

...


Full story with video report by Zeina Khodr(1:44):
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/08/2011826573517261.html

[pinboy3niner]

104. Syrian gunmen break artist's hands as 'warning'

By ZEINA KARAM - Associated Press | AP – 8 hrs ago.


BEIRUT (AP) — A renowned political cartoonist whose drawings expressed Syrians' frustrated hopes for change was grabbed after he left his studio early Thursday and beaten by masked gunmen who broke his hands and dumped him on a road outside Damascus.


One of Syria's most famous artists, Ali Ferzat, 60, earned international recognition and the respect of many Arabs with stinging caricatures that infuriated dictators including Iraq's Saddam Hussein, Libya's Moammar Gadhafi and, particularly in recent months, Syria's autocratic Assad family.


He lay badly bruised in a hospital bed Thursday evening with his hands swathed in bandages, a stark reminder that no Syrian remains immune to a brutal crackdown on a five-month anti-government uprising.

...


http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-gunmen-break-artists-hands-warning-172819236.html

[pinboy3niner]

105. Gaddafi's desperate bid to save regime revealed

Posted in LBN by Turborama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4974435

[pinboy3niner]

107. Mahmoud Jibril holds press conf. with Turkey's FM, emphasizes need for funds to restore security

From Al Jazeera's Live Blog:

Mahmoud Jibril, the deputy chairman of the NTC, is speaking with Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's foreign minister, live at a press conference held in Istanbul.


Jibril emphasised concerns that there are impressions of a legitimacy crisis, security issues, and the need to demilitarise as quickly as possible.


"We need to collect weapons to created a national army and police force, and this needs a lot of money.


"We cannot have such goal without being able financially and economically with such power.


"Tomorrow we will be having a meeting in the Arab League in Cairo and today we have a meeting in Addis Ababa...we urge our brothers and friends to listen to our voice.


"There will be high expectations after the collapse of the regime. The frozen assets must be released for the success of the new government to be established after the Gaddafi regime."


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-26-2011-1042

[pinboy3niner]

108. Gadhafi: 'Fight them, destroy them'

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Rebel fighter: "We do not want to spill a lot of blood, because they are our brothers"

• A dozen bodies, with their hands tied behind their backs, are found in Tripoli

• A U.N. sanctions committee agrees to make $1.5 billion available to Libya

• Purported Gadhafi message to followers: "Do not leave Tripoli for the rats"

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 26, 2011 3:40 a.m. EDT


Tripoli, Libya (CNN) --

...


The National Transitional Council, the rebel leadership, says it is determined to flush Gadhafi out with minimal civilian losses.


"We don't want to spill a lot of blood, you know, because they are our brothers," said one rebel fighter, who declined to give his name.

...


Fighting was reported in Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte and other loyalist strongholds near the Tunisian border and east of Tripoli.


Rebels said they controlled Tripoli's international airport, but were struggling to secure an area east of it controlled by Gadhafi loyalists. An empty Libyan passenger plane was destroyed during shelling on Thursday. It was the third plane destroyed in 24 hours.

...


The Arab League was expected to officially seat the National Transitional Council in Cairo on Saturday, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman, who was in Istanbul for a meeting of the Libya Contact Group -- an alliance of countries working to rebuild Libya.

...


http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/26/libya.war/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

[tabatha]

109. 'Oh, freedom!' cry Libyans in Tripoli

TRIPOLI, Libya - In the early morning, rebels man checkpoints on streets where, a day earlier, they battled government forces.

They clearly remain excited over seizing most of this capital from Col. Moammar Gadhafi, Libya's brutal, mercurial dictator of four decades.

Standing between bullet-scarred buildings and charred cars, Emad Shabaan, 35, cradles an assault rifle and smiles while checking the few vehicles in the downtown neighborhood of Al Dhahra. "California Surfing" is scrawled across his dark-blue T-shirt.

"It was so, so, so dangerous," the marketing manager for a now-defunct oil company says of Tripoli's past six months. "Gadhafi brought people from Africa to kill us."

Tension over a fight unfinished remains a constant here. Shops are all shuttered, and sniper-fire pierces the air.

Even so, Tripolitans today are reveling in the liberation that Libya's eastern cities felt after ousting Gadhafi loyalists last spring.

Finally free to speak, they can't stop talking about life under Gadhafi.

"We want the rule of law, real education, and health care," says Sheik Ahmed Farhat, 51. The imam of a local mosque, he wears a long white gown, a white cotton cap and a brown-and-tan vest. "We will be a modern country, like any other."

Read more: 'Oh, freedom!' cry Libyans in Tripoli - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_753534.html#ixzz1W7psfgE9

[pinboy3niner]

110. Rebels take control of Abu Salim neighborhood in Tripoli, other forces prepare to assault Sirte

In Tripoli opposition fighters are still battling to take control of Ghargour and Bab-Al Aziziya, which was Gaddafi's compound. One of the areas that the rebels now control after fighting for hours is Abu Salim.


Rebels are also preparing for an assault on Gaddafi's home town of Sirte, which is thought to be one of his last remaining strongholds.


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/liveblog/libya-aug-26-2011-1200

[pinboy3niner]

111. AU ready to recognise Libyan rebels

Source: The Nation (Nigeria)

By Our Reporter7 minutes ago


The African Union could recognise rebels who ousted Muammar Gaddafi as Libya's legitimate government as early as Friday, although the AU may also want some from Gaddafi's side involved in a transition, a senior South African government source said.


AU backing of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), which has declared itself the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people, would bolster a group already recognised by more than 40 countries as the governing body of Libya, Reuters reports.


"There is a strong likelihood that the African Union will recognise the NTC today but call for inclusion of the Gaddafi regime in the interim transitional government," the South African government source says.


The AU's Peace and Security Council was due to meet in Ethiopia on Friday to discuss Libya. Gaddafi was one of the main driving forces behind the creation of the AU, which consists of 54 African countries.


"The reality is that the AU cannot ignore the NTC as a major player in Libya today and its stance will have to recognise that," the source, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

...


http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news-update/17397-au-ready-to-recognise-libyan-rebels.html

[pinboy3niner]

112. Tripoli Airport Attacked by Qaddafi Forces

Source: Bloomberg

By Vivian Salama and Emre Peker - Aug 26, 2011 2:37 AM PT


...


Pro-Qaddafi forces attacked targets at the airport in the capital overnight as he urged supporters to “cleanse Tripoli of the rats.” At least four planes, including an Airbus A330, were destroyed by rocket fire, Al Arabiya television reported today.


Qaddafi’s audio message, issued from hiding while rebels were hunting him with intelligence help from NATO, called on Muslim clerics to incite Libyans for “jihad” against his enemies. The audiotape was broadcast by Syria-based Al Oruba TV.


“As the Libyan regime and its forces begin to melt away you have residual groups who are going to continue to fight,” Theodore Karasik, director of research at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said by phone yesterday. “They will start to target airports, seaports, oil and gas infrastructure and anything that represents the authority of the new government.”

...


Rome-based Eni SpA (ENI) will begin supplying the transitional council with gasoline and diesel fuel in the coming days that will eventually be paid for with crude oil, Chief Executive Officer Paolo Scaroni said yesterday after meeting Jibril. Eni, the biggest foreign investor in Libya, saw most of its production halted by the conflict.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-26/libyan-rebels-seek-aid-as-qaddafi-calls-on-muslim-clerics-to-incite-jihad.html

[pinboy3niner]

113. Rebels lay siege to possible hideout

Fighters believe Gadhafi is inside apartment block near former headquarters

By Damien McElroy and Gordon Rayner, Daily Telegraph August 26, 2011 3:02 AM


Rebels laid siege Thursday to a possible Tripoli hideout of Moammar Gadhafi as Western intelligence sources said the longtime leader was still in Tripoli.


Up to 1,000 opposition fighters surrounded an apartment block near Gadhafi's former headquarters complex in the Libyan capital, where they exchanged fire with loyalists following unconfirmed reports that the Libyan leader was inside with some of his sons.

...


In other moves Thursday: . Rebel fighters took charge of the kilometres of tunnels built by Gadhafi to link his fortified compound to other parts of Tripoli.


• Fears of a humanitarian crisis were eased by the discovery of immense stockpiles of food and medical supplies in Tripoli.

...


http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Rebels+siege+possible+hideout/5311207/story.html

*** "Fears of a humanitarian crisis were eased by the discovery of immense stockpiles of food and medical supplies in Tripoli." ***

[pinboy3niner]

114. Will Libyan Rebels Stay United After Gadhafi Is Gone?

Source: NPR (Morning Edition)

August 26, 2011


The Libyan rebel government calls itself the Transitional National Council. Political scientist Ali Ahmida talks to Renee Montagne about whether the rebel's leadership will remain united after Moammar Gadhafi's regime is defeated. Ahmida is author of "The Making of Modern Libya."

Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be available at approx. 9:00 a.m. ET


http://www.npr.org/2011/08/26/139964591/will-libyan-rebel-council-stay-united-after-gadhafi-is-defeated

[pinboy3niner]

115. Battles Grip Tripoli, Coastal Cities

Source: Wall Street Journal

AUGUST 26, 2011, 6:27 A.M. ET

Fierce Fighting Rages in the Capital, as Libyan Rebels Retreat From Pro-Regime Soldiers Near Gadhafi's Tribal Home

By CHARLES LEVINSON,SAM DAGHER and ALISTAIR MACDONALD


As Libyan rebels head toward Sirte, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization stepped up its attacks on the town, the home base of Col. Moammar Gadhafi's tribe.


NATO said Friday it hit a total of 29 armed vehicles in the town on Wednesday. In the early hours of Friday morning, Royal Air Force jets flew from a base in the U.K. to attack a "large headquarters bunker" in the town, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said.


The recent barrage against Sirte compares with one hit on the town on Tuesday and nothing the day before, when the target was still primarily Tripoli.

...


Also in the capital, a gunbattle broke out in front of a major hotel in the heart of the city where many journalists are staying. The battle raged for much of the afternoon in front of the Corinthia Hotel, one of Tripoli's best accommodations, with correspondents from several international news organizations trapped inside. Many of the journalists were among those released the day before from a dayslong siege at a different hotel, the Rixos.

...


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904787404576531943877544516.html

[pinboy3niner]

116. UK jets bomb Gaddafi hometown bunker

Posted in GD by xchrom:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1817422

[pinboy3niner]

117. Libya chemical, nuclear material 'secure'

Source: AP

2011-08-26 13:02


Washington - The US State Department expressed confidence on Thursday that Libya's raw nuclear material and deadly chemicals are secure, trying to dispel fears that the near collapse of Muammar Gaddafi's regime means terrorists could get their hands on weapons of mass destruction.


In a statement issued on Thursday night, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the leaders of the rebel government in Libya, the Transitional National Council (TNC), had obligations to the international community as well as to their own people as they took control of the Arab country.

...


Raw nuclear material and chemicals aside, the fate of thousands of rockets is less clear. US intelligence officials and counterterrorism experts criticised slow work by State Department to locate and buy back dangerous munitions like the estimated 15 000 to 25 000 shoulder-fired missiles in Gaddafi's weapons stores.

...


That's feeding a debate within the administration over whether to devote more US resources, including manpower on the ground, to find and secure the potentially deadly or at the very least, lucrative, material.

...


The administration has ruled out sending any US troops to Libya, and is resisting internal calls inside the intelligence and counterterrorism community to expand the CIA's covert mission, two former US officials said. Since the CIA teams are operating covertly, they are not considered to be official participants in the UN-sanctioned mission to protect civilians in Libya.

...


http://www.news24.com/World/News/Libya-chemical-nuclear-material-secure-20110826

[joshcryer]

118. Week 27 part 7 here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1817519