Reply #: July 4th vid of FFs, fleeing Tripolitians describe protests, west mntns & Misrata make advances

[joshcryer]

tabatha posted this fantastic video of freedom fighters on July 4th: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI2ncwCCYnM

Note how we don't see much of the "Gaddafi loyalist" fighters. Wonder why that is? There was a post a day or so back talking about Gaddafi's propaganda trip to Brega where no loyalist fighters were allowed to be seen.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/libyans-who-fled-tripoli-1000035.html">Libyans who fled Tripoli describe furtive protests

BENGHAZI, Libya — Rebel sympathizers, driven underground by a security clampdown in Tripoli, have resorted to furtive protests such as writing "No" next to pro-government wall graffiti and releasing balloons with rebel flags attached, according to two Libyans who have escaped the capital.


The two men spoke after reaching the eastern rebel stronghold of Benghazi, offering a rare snapshot of anti-government resistance in the capital. Tripoli residents, fearing regime reprisals, are generally reluctant to speak to foreign reporters based there who can only move with government minders and are almost never allowed access to rebel sympathizers.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/libya-mountains-advance-idUKLDE7650HM20110706">Western mountain rebels launch offensive southwest of Tripoli
Hundreds of Libyan rebels launched a massed offensive in the mountains southwest of Tripoli on Wednesday to seize a village held by Muammar Gaddafi's forces and push the front line closer to the capital.

Rebels arrived at the front at first light in scores of Toyota pick-up trucks, many with large-calibre anti-aircraft guns or home-made rocket launchers welded onto the truck beds. Several tanks also came on the backs of lorries.

The rebels began firing rockets and mortars at dawn, cries of "Allahu Akbar!" or "God is greatest!" echoing through groves of olive, almond and fig trees with each outgoing blast.

Gaddafi's forces responded with intermittent volleys of Grad tactical surface-to-surface rockets. Clouds of black smoke came from the hillsides where the incoming rounds exploded.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE7650KZ20110706">Libyan rebels say they make advance near Misrata
Libyan rebel fighters based in Misrata advanced about 20 km (12 miles) west towards the capital, rebel commanders said on Wednesday, but government forces were shelling their positions.

...

The advance -- which would be the biggest by the rebels in weeks of largely static fighting west of Misrata -- could leave the rebels exposed because they have not had time to dig in and build defensive positions.

From a field hospital in Dafniya, the sound of the impact from mortars, artillery and Russian-made Grad rockets could be heard every few seconds.

A Reuters reporter at the hospital saw two wounded soldiers being brought in from the front. One was injured in the upper thigh and another had leg wounds.