Witnesses: Libya army says Benghazi 'liberated' from pro-Ghadafi forces

[DLnyc]

Source: Haaretz

Members of a Libyan army unit told Benghazi residents on Sunday night that they had defected and "liberated" the city from forces supporting veteran leader Moammar Gadhafi, two residents said.

Habib al-Obaidi, who heads the intensive care unit at the main Al-Jalae hospital, and lawyer Mohamed Al-Mana, told Reuters members of the "Thunderbolt" squad had arrived at the hospital with soldiers wounded in clashes with Gaddafi's personal guard.

. . .

The crackdown prompted about 50 Libyan Muslim religious leaders to issue an appeal, sent to Reuters, for the security forces, as Muslims, to stop the killing.

"We appeal to every Muslim, within the regime or assisting it in any way, to recognize that the killing of innocent human beings is forbidden by our Creator and by His beloved Prophet of Compassion ... Do NOT kill your brothers and sisters. STOP the massacre NOW!" the appeal said.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/witnesses-libya-army-says-benghazi-liberated-from-pro-ghadafi-forces-1.344666

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If the army stays with the people, I think Gadhafi will be leaving town very soon.

[tekisui]

1. Gaddafi is going to fall~!

[bemildred]

5. He's toasted. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Let's hope Gaddafy will be leaving town very soon

Otherwise, he'll have to accept an invitation from The People and their army to their version of Dancing with the Stars: where he dances under a lamp post a couple of feet closer to the stars than the audience.

[DLnyc]

6. Very nice image.

Technically, I am opposed to the death penalty. But Dancing with the Stars for Ghadafi (who has by many accounts massacred hundreds of unarmed protesters and innocent bystanders using large caliber arms in just the last day or two), I have to say, has a nice festive aspect to it.

[SkyDaddy7]

3. I know this is bad...But some folks deserve it!

I kinda hope the opposition get their hands on Gadhafi...That man has enormous amounts of innocent blood on his hands!! He does not desrve to run off & live in luxury in another country!

[formercia]

4. Assholes are Fair Game. n/t

[DLnyc]

7. Aljazeera: elements of army in Benghazi saying they have defected

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/201122014259976293.html

===================
. . .
Anti-government protesters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi have reportedly seized army vehicles and weapons amid worsening turmoil in the African nation.

A local witness said that a section of the troops had joined the protesters on Sunday as chaos swept the streets of the city, worst hit by the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year old rule.
. . .
===================

Eyewitness on Aljazeera live stream saying Benghzai is peaceful now. Calling it "Free Benghazi".
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[DLnyc]

8. Caller saying no army evident in Tripoli. Claiming Ghadafi left (?)

Rumor is he left to Venezuela.

Not confirmed. Another caller saying also rumors of gunfight between Ghadafi brothers?

Announcer now reporting other Arab paper has shooting report.

Could it be?

Also, on their live blog:

==================
12:11 am: Libya's ambassador to China, Hussein Sadiq al Musrati, has just resigned on air with Al Jazeera Arabic. He called on the army to intervene, and has called all diplomatic staff to resign.

He made claims about a gunfight between Gaddafi's sons and also claimed that Gaddafi may have left Libya. Al Jazeera has no confirmation of these claims.
=================

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2011/02/17/live-blog-libya

[ButterflyBlood]

9. Hey, how do you spell "Nicolae Ceausescu" in Arabic?

I think we might have the answer soon...

[Joanne98]

10. Libyan troops defect amid crackdown

Source: Aljazeera

Anti-government protesters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi have reportedly seized army vehicles and weapons amid worsening turmoil in the African nation.

A local witness said that a section of the troops had joined the protesters on Sunday as chaos swept the streets of the city, worst hit by the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year old rule.

Meanwhile, there were reports of clashes between anti-government protesters and Gaddafi supporters around the Green Square in the capital, Tripoli.

"We are in Tripoli, there are chants : 'Where are you? Where are you? Come out if you're a man," a protester told Al Jazeera on phone.

There were also reports of protesters heading to Gaddafi's compound in the city of Al-Zawia near Tripoli, with the intention of burning the building down.



Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/20112202148108558.html

[social_critic]

11. Khadaffi is reported to have left Lybia

Two of his sons got into an argument, one shot the other. I was watching Al Jazeera TV a few minutes ago.

[jwirr]

12. That is three children he has lost for the sake of his rule. He is old

why doesn't he step down.

[Tx4obama]

15. One son shot the other son in the SHOULDER. n/t

[DLnyc]

13. Yes, I heard that too, but not confirmed yet

more in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4740722

[madmax]

14. This happened today?

One brother is dead? Man, things are happening all over at warp speed.

[Tx4obama]

16. Not dead. Only shot in the shoulder. n/t