Libyan Revolution Week 13

[joshcryer]

Links to sites with updates: http://blogs.aljazeera.net/">AJE Live Blog (click link and go to Libya 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=439x1103734">Day 87 here.

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

People stand at a wall looking at pictures of missing or dead in Benghazi

Photograph: AFP

Day 84, May 12

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110511/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_libya">Rebels: Gadhafi forces pushed back from Misrata
Pressing to break a two-month siege, rebels in the port city of Misrata said Wednesday they had captured the local airport and pushed Moammar Gadhafi's forces ever further from the city's western outskirts.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110511/pl_nm/us_usa_congress_libya_2">John Kerry seeks fund transfer to Libya opposition
Senator John Kerry said on Wednesday he was drafting legislation to authorize the transfer of available cash assets of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to a Libyan opposition group.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/11/libya-accused-of-exploiting-humanitarian-crisis">Libyan regime accused of exploiting boat people
The Libyan regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is allowing thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants on to overcrowded, unseaworthy ships in an apparently calculated attempt to use migration as a weapon to pressure Nato and the EU countries backing Libya's rebels.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/the_two_faces_of_gaddafis_regime_tough_guy_and_victim/2011/04/30/AFSgDOPF_story.html?wprss=rss_world">In Libya, a regime with two faces
It is a classic good cop, bad cop routine. Libya is simultaneously trying to play the role of tough guy and victim in its dealings with the outside world, as it unleashes venom and shellfire on its opponents but pleads for a cease-fire and dialogue.

Day 85, May 13

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/12/uk-libya-westernmountains-kabaw-idUKTRE74B1Q920110512">Geography thwarts Gaddafi on Libya's western front
Colonel Tarek Zanbou stood high above the desert plains where Libya meets Tunisia, and explained how his rebels happen to hold the Western Mountains. He was brief.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/12/derna-libya-gaddafi-al-qaida">'Gaddafi is the terrorist man': Derna denies being al-Qaida hotbed
Angry reaction from town singled out by Libyan ruler as harbouring terrorists he says are behind country's revolution

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/12/uk-libya-emirates-idUKTRE74B67U20110512">Libyan military attache joins rebel ranks - TV
A Libyan military attache to the Emirates on Thursday told Al Arabiya channel he was quitting his post to join the rebel ranks.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/12/uk-libya-misrata-aid-idUKTRE74B4DA20110512">Misrata airport would be tricky lifeline - agencies
Reports that Libyan rebels have captured the airport in the western city of Misrata could herald a new lifeline for the beleaguered population, but using the airfield could prove hazardous, aid agencies said Thursday.

Day 86, May 14

http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFN1229938020110512">Most people in 23 nations back NATO action in Libya
Sixty percent of people from 23 countries support NATO's military intervention in Libya, a poll showed on Thursday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110513/wl_afp/libyaconflicticc">Warcrimes court to seek Libya arrest warrants on May 16
International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said on Friday he would seek arrest warrants on May 16 for three people considered most responsible for crimes against humanity in Libya.

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/13/136254231/rebel-leader-asks-u-s-for-frozen-libya-funds">Rebel Leader Asks U.S. For Frozen Libya Funds
A top representative of the Libyan opposition is making the rounds in Washington, including a planned visit to the White House on Friday.

Editorials
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/opinion/13elwarfally.html?_r=1">What the Libyan Resistance Needs
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2011/0512_libya_opposition.aspx">The Future of Libya: A View from the Opposition - video
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/for-libyan-rebels-a-light-moment-in-a-doleful-war/">For Libyan Rebels, a Light Moment in a Doleful War

Day 87, May 15

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/14/muammar-gaddafi-exit-halt-air-strikes">Muammar Gaddafi is hoping that a 'dignified' exit will halt air strikes
From his hiding place in Tripoli, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is desperately trying to pave a way for an exit from public life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/world/africa/13tripoli.html?_r=1">Libya Offers Controlled Tour of NATO Bombing Sites in Tripoli
Taken at face value, the official Libyan account of an overnight NATO bombing attack on Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s leadership compound in the heart of Tripoli was wrenching — an example, as the Libyans told it, of NATO’s “barbarity” toward Libyan civilians and the West’s utter lack of concern for international “morality.”

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/05/201151415330280186.html">Libyan rebels seek European support
A senior leader of the Libyan opposition council has met French president Nicolas Sarkozy for talks in a bid to garner further international support for the fight against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

http://en.rian.ru/world/20110514/164029405.html">Greece to send humanitarian aid to Benghazi
Greece will send a humanitarian aid ship to Libyan rebel's stronghold of Benghazi, Greek Foreign Minister, Dimitris Droutsas said on Saturday.

Day 88, May 16

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/05/15/world/africa/how-libya-rebels-repelled-qaddafi-western-mountains.html">How Libyan Rebels Have Repelled Qaddafi in the Western Mountains
While much attention has been focused on rebel efforts in eastern Libya and in the city of Misurata, rebels have held control of most of the Nafusah Mountain region since the unrest began in February.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_YyD1dYZ5Io27kBye-gB-aTe94Q?docId=8a3e0c3130ba4c14831e08c9de3be4ae">Prosecutors put final touches to Libya indictment
Senior officials in the embattled government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have come forward to offer evidence to the International Criminal Court in its investigation of widespread murder and persecution, prosecutors said Sunday.

http://uk.reuters.com/places/libya">Click here for updated map


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://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".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x677397">Text of UN resolution 1973. How will a no fly zone work? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWEwehTtK2k">AJE reports.

Belgium: http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/monde/2011-03-21/les-f-16-belges-dans-le-feu-de-l-action-829588.php">Six F-16 Falcon fighter jets of the Belgian Air Component. Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Navy Wielingen class frigate Drazki http://paper.standartnews.com/en/article.php?d=2011-03-23&article=35828">will participate in the naval blockade. Canada: Canadian Forces Air Command has deployed http://www.cefcom-comfec.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/ops/mobile/index-eng.asp">a total 440 military personnel as well as the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Charlottetown are participating in operations. Denmark: The Royal Danish Air Force http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/ECE1227910/denmark-to-send-squadron-on-libya-op/">is participating with six F-16AM fighters. France: French Air Force which realizes 25% of NATO's strikes http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/autres-operations/harmattan/libye-debut-des-operations-aeriennes-francaises">is participating in the mission with 51 Mirage and Rafale Aircraft. Greece: The Elli-class frigate Limnos of the Hellenic Navy http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2011/03/20/greek-defence-ministry-no-participation-in-operations-outside-the-nato/">is currently in the waters off Libya as part of the naval blockade. Italy: Four Tornado ECRs of the Italian Air Force http://www.corriere.it/esteri/11_marzo_20/tripoli-bombardamento-chiesta-riunione-onu_2e95d102-52c0-11e0-a725-dbe20f0ba2b5.shtml">participated in SEAD operations. Jordan: Six Royal Jordanian Air Force fighter jets http://www.allheadlinenews.com/briefs/articles/90043651?After%20hesitation%2C%20Jordan%20joins%20in%20Libya%20no-fly%20campaign">landed at a coalition airbase in Europe on 4 April to provide "logistical support." NATO: E-3 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/nordtrondelag/article1606878.ece">aircraft operated by NATO. Netherlands: The Royal Netherlands Air Force http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/dutch-f-16s-operational-over-libya">provides six F-16AM fighters and a KDC-10 refuelling plane. Norway: The Royal Norwegian Air Force has http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/libya/artikkel.php?artid=10091294">deployed six F-16AM fighters to Souda Bay Air Base. Qatar: The Qatar Armed Forces are http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123248695">contributing six Mirage 2000-5EDA fighter jets and two C-17 strategic transport aircraft. Romania: The Romanian Naval Forces http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-8423876-traian-basescu-sustine-declaratie-presa-ora-21-00-dupa-sedinta-csat.htm">will participate in the naval blockade with the frigate Regele Ferdinand. Spain: The Spanish Armed Forces are http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Espana/intervendra/cazas/F-18/fragata/F-100/submarino/avion/vigilancia/maritima/elpepuint/20110319elpepuint_14/Tes">participating with four F-18 fighters. Sweden: The Royal Swedish Air Force will http://www.swedishwire.com/politics/9050-sweden-offers-eight-fighter-jets-for-libya-mission">commit eight JAS 39 Gripen jets for the international air campaign. Turkey: The Turkish Navy http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/24/general-libya-diplomacy_8373237.html">will participate with five ships and one submarine in the NATO-led naval blockade to enforce the arms embargo. United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates Air Force http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1300255413630&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews">sent six F-16 Falcon and six Mirage 2000 fighter jets to join the mission. United Kingdom: The Royal Air Force has http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/TyphoonJoinsTornadoInLibyaGroundAttackOperations.htm">deployed 12 Tornado and 10 Typhoon fighters, surveillance aircraft, and air refuelling tankers. United States: The United States has http://www.webcitation.org/5xJ8qNGGe">deployed a naval force of 11 ships and are using MQ-1 Predator UAVs to strike targets in Libya on 23 April.

"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/50/1541–1548.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 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

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 who is with 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 88 updates below

Updates don't have to be replies to this post, this is just to delineate between days of the rest of this week.

http://pastebin.com/8w86p4Nd">Here is a link to todays post (useful as a template possibly, if you remove links etc).

[pinboy3niner]

8. Thanks, Josh

Just popping in to check the thread (and rec), then heading out again 'til late.

The template is great. That should cover us just fine with a little coordination among the principals. Once again, awesome job!

Have a very good week...

pinboy3niner







___________________________________

[joshcryer]

2. Current time in Libya, 12:16am Monday, May 16

[joshcryer]

3. NATO hits Ras Lanuf, update from Tripoli, UK rejects increase in force

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110515/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_libya">Libya: NATO hits oil port of Ras Lanouf
TRIPOLI, Libya – NATO aircraft blasted an oil terminal in a key eastern city at nightfall Sunday, Libyan TV reported, after Britain urged the alliance to widen its assault on areas controlled by ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

The Libya TV report said the bombs hit methanol tanks at the oil port of Ras Lanouf, causing leaks. NATO officials had no immediate comment.

The reported attack came as the Libyan conflict appeared largely stalemated, with each side claiming gains one day, only to be turned back the next.

Libyan rebels said Sunday they have taken full control of the western port city of Misrata, 125 miles (200 kilometers) from Tripoli, the only major city in western Libya with a significant rebel toehold. The rebel claim could not be confirmed.

http://libya-alhurra.tumblr.com/post/5521011688/live-report-escapee-from-tripoli">Live report: escapee from Tripoli
May 15, 2011 - 10 pm local time: report from an escapee from Tripoli recorded live on Libya Alhurra, who gives a first hand account of the current situation in the city, after fleeing to Tunisia.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/">Libya: Liam Fox rejects calls to 'up the ante'
Liam Fox said a targeting extension demanded by Gen Sir David Richards, chief of the defence staff, had already happened. "I think the point he was making is that a number of Nato countries have been less happy about some of the targeting," Dr Fox said. The UK's parameters for attacks were "slightly more widely drawn" than those of some other allies, he added.

For legal reasons, the alliance has claimed that Gaddafi is not being directly targeted.

Gen Richards said Nato needed to "do more" or there was "a risk that the conflict could result in Gaddafi clinging to power." He added that should the dictator be killed in a strike on a command and control centre that would be "within the rules".

Although bombing of Tripoli intensified last week, it remains relatively light.

[TransitJohn]

4. I knew this post would have to go weekly eventually.

:hi:

[joshcryer]

5. Timing is weird, pinboy3niner and I have obligations this week and next and I work in the day.

There may be an occasional daily thread if things heat up, people complain about 500+ posts.

(When it started I wanted to do a weekly thread but stuff was moving too quick for it to happen.)

[joshcryer]

6. Kousa & other defectors helping NATO, Tribute FM talks to the Guardian, freedom worth losses

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/15/koussa-among-defectors-helping-nato-claim">Koussa among defectors 'helping Nato bomb secret Gaddafi sites'
A network of Libyan defectors, including the former regime stalwart Moussa Koussa, are helping Nato to destroy Muammar Gaddafi's military sites, including bunker complexes from which much of the war has been run, according to senior officials in Libya.

Nato planners have stepped up their operations over the capital, Tripoli, and the western mountains in recent days, despite a strike on the eastern city of Brega early on Friday that killed up to 11 people, many of them Islamic clerics.

But British defence chiefs are applying pressure on other Nato countries to escalate the bombing campaign against Gaddafi amid deepening concerns that military action will end in stalemate.

Nearly two months since the start of air strikes, they fear divisions within Nato and at the UN will lead to fewer sorties just at a time when, they claim, the regime is starting to feel the pinch and even its core support showing signs of cracking.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/15/radio-free-benghazi-war-words">Radio free Benghazi – the war of words
For hours and hours, I didn't know what to make of it: Tribute FM is the first ever English language radio station in Libya. And it sounds just like Magic. Diana Ross . . . the Jackson Five . . . the Temptations . . . some German rap . . . Easy Like Sunday Morning . . . just as you're nodding along, thinking "this is nice, I wonder if they have a phone-in," you remember: this is probably the most radical statement of a successful revolution coming out of any radio, anywhere in the world. It is a huge moment for a country in which not just English but most European languages have been invisible for decades.

Before Muhammad, Aman and two others launched Tribute in Benghazi last week, "English wasn't frowned on, it was completely illegal," Muhammad tells me by phone. "It was taken out of schools, it got to the point where nothing in English was available in the city. You couldn't advertise in English, you couldn't read a newspaper in English."

It is a measure of how isolating this was for young Libyans that setting up a radio station would be such a priority as the fighting continues, the stream of refugees is unabated and Gaddafi has not, as yet, surrendered.

Even though the studio's location is a secret, and they cannot give their full names, for fear of reprisals from Gaddafi loyalists, Muhammad is clear that this is not pirate radio. They are totally legal and nothing to do with the Transitional National Council, the rebel leadership. "It's just us, we're just guys trying to make a difference."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/15/eveningnews/main20063077.shtml">Libya's rebels say dying for freedom is worth it
In the battle for Libya, rebels said Sunday that they are in full control of the western port city of Misrata. They say there are no plans, for now, to advance on the capital, Tripoli.

CBS News correspondent Mandy Clark reports that rebels in the stronghold of Benghazi have begun measuring the cost of war, and come to the conclusion that dying for freedom is worth it.

Ayman Faraj el Berghthy was a businessman until recently. Now he's on the frontline. His wife, who is 4 months pregnant says her husband's role in the fighting produces a terrible feeling, and she's afraid all the time, but he has to go fight.

Nearly every family in rebel-held territory has someone at the front. Ayman's brother, Essam Faraj el Berghthy, is a biologist who had a close call in the early days of the protests in Benghazi. He even took a bullet to the face that broke his teeth and came up from under his eye.

[Yosarian71]

7. Libya offers truce

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/libya-offers-truce-to-un-20110516-1ep14.html

Consistent with Heinz's reports. According to Heinz, regime generals have had enough. Odd ending to the article, repeating the "stalemate" meme when Gadhafi's troops are disintegrating.

[tabatha]

9. Yep, they were waiting for the UN official to state the terms.

See:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1103734&mesg_id=1107008

Also, note
FourCM‎ RT @IbnOmar2005: the #libyan revolution started exactly 3 months ago when #gaddafi arrested a lawyer working on the case of the abu salim massacre. #libya

[joshcryer]

10. Gaddafi regime dismisses arrest bid, UN envoy visits Libya, videos from Misrata, ICC wants Gaddafi

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/libya-dismisses-world-arrest-bid-16000399.html">Libya dismisses world arrest bid
Libya's deputy foreign minister has dismissed efforts by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against three senior leaders.

Court prosecutors said they were putting the final touches to their case against three Libyan leaders on charges of murder and persecution over the brutal crackdown on anti-government rebels.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is expected to be among them.

Speaking in a late-night discussion with reporters in the Libyan capital, Khaled Kaim said his government would "not show any attention to the decision".

He said Libya did not recognise the jurisdiction of the international court, nor did most African countries.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-05/16/c_13876896.htm">UN special envoy visits Libya in diplomatic efforts to end Libyan crisis
UNITED NATIONS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy on Sunday paid a one-day visit to Libya for meetings with senior government officials as part of the UN diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in the North African country.

During his visit, Abdel Elah al-Khatib, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy for Libya, met with the Libyan foreign minister, the prime minister, the secretary-general of the Libyan Public Congress and the tribal forum which supports Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, according to a note to reporters here from Ban's spokesman.

"Their discussions focused on the need to fully implement (UN) Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, to allow full humanitarian access, and to establish a ceasefire and political process," said the note.

UN Security Council Resolution 1970 imposed an arms embargo against Libya and slapped sanctions on members of Gaddafi's inner circle. Resolution 1973 authorized a no-fly zone over Libya.

A Sunday drive through Misrata, incredible video, showing traffic everywhere, this is something that did not exist for 2 months straight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJbVwJDxupM

Video of battles in Libya: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_QL5pP0bjA

Tripoli speaks, interview of someone in Tripoli, backing the revolution (with video of Tripoli): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCdpynxWFnk

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Video-Libya-International-Criminal-Court-Will-Ask-Judges-To-Issue-Arrest-Warrants-For-Gaddafi/Article/201105315992490">ICC Requests Arrest Warrants For Gaddafi
The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court will today ask judges in The Hague to issue arrest warrants for three senior members of the Libyan regime.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is widely expected to be one of the people named.

The other two are thought to be the leader's son Saif al Islam, once seen as a moderate successor to his father, and Abdullah al Senussi who is the Libyan regime's head of espionage.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is due to file a 74-page document with nine annexes.

It outlines allegations of systematic attacks against civilians by Col Gaddafi's forces since February.

[Yosarian71]

11. Heinz seems to be extending timeline

Late last week he implied it could be over during the weekend. It seems he has undermined the Gadhafi regime as everyone else has. The tone is not quite so giddy as it was on Friday. I think defections came in less than he expected.

some posts from this morning:

why to hold daffis troops inside and arround tripoli
if they escape in huge numbers to south ,the conflikt will take more time and blood.
but the time for escape is still over

it will take 2 days to eliminate daffis troops in and around zlitan,they are on 50% status now

about the future strategie for ff
misrata tigers have to go to the other towns in the west of misrata including blocking the highway tripoli to east.and to hold their block position in direktion sirte.
western mountains will clean up this week and block the highway to south
in the area west of tripoli nato will wipe out daffis troops
notrth/east of tripoli will be free soon with help of nato and ff can deliver weapons and advisers to them .

about daffi and his sons
daffi will die in libya ,may be somewere in the desert ore in tripoli .
saif will flee to another country .the rest may die in bunkers or battlefield .
my computer line up a end szenario
daffi-clan loose tripoli
rest of loyal troops go to the south border under heavy losses.
they will continue to fight up to the moment money run out ,and then try to escape over the border.

the goverment crackle in tripoli spill up.
there are two goverments there now.
daffi-clan with a military strukture of saif and his brother and the rest of the goverment.
but daffi-clan military strukture have not a long lifetime.
nato will kill their high and medium officers and destroy their comand-strukture,and start now to eliminate the check points.

[Iterate]

12. The Brega Bunker And How We Found It

The Brega Bunker And How We Found It
Mark Stone May 16, 2011 1:08 AM

NATO jets are pounding the city on almost a nightly basis. The windows in our hotel rattle as the bombs impact. Luckily, it's well known that international journalists are all staying in the Rixos Hotel. The building is even in the shape of a big 'H' when viewed from satellite imagery which should deter the pilots.

But there is something else which makes reporting here extremely frustrating. We're here as the guests of the Libyan government. We have to apply for visas from Colonel Gaddafi's officials, and in doing that we have to accept what comes with it: severe reporting restrictions.

Ironically, they say that the restrictions are in place 'for our own safety'.

more stone...
http://blogs.news.sky.com/frontlineblog/Post:04f27bee-badb-415b-9045-e7ef0a62beb5

Good background and shows how one might commit good journalism even under severe restriction. Includes video links, one of which is bad.
http://youtu.be/pv7ihtK5IMo is the better link.

The video report of the basics of the story is here:
http://www.youtube.com/markstoneskynews#p/c/27B2729A3B0B5332/21/cc785LuBI-w

[Iterate]

13. ICC Report live:

http://livestream.xs4all.nl/icc5.asx

Three warrants, guide brother leader, idiot son #2, and brother leader brother-in-law, "the executioner". It's a family business.

For accuracy sake, at this point it's an official request for a warrant. Muammar Gaddafi, Saif el-Islam and Abdullah Senussi.

Ocampo: The evidence shows Muammar Gaddafi personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians.

[pinboy3niner]

20. Normally it takes 2 months from request to warrant issuance

But I wonder in this case if the ICC may act faster due to the urgency of the situation in Libya.

On CNN, Nic Robertson reported live from The Hague that the chief prosecutor has requested 24 warrants in the past--and in every case, the warrant was approved and issued.

[Iterate]

27. ICC prosecutor 'almost ready' for Libya abuse trial

ICC prosecutor 'almost ready' for Libya abuse trial

(AFP) – 1 day ago

THE HAGUE — The ICC chief prosecutor said Sunday he was 'almost ready' for a Libyan rights abuse trial, as he prepared to apply for arrest warrants with Moamer Kadhafi believed likely to head his list.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo is expected to ask International Criminal Court (ICC) judges in The Hague to issue three arrest warrants on Monday, when the names of the accused could be revealed.

Diplomats have said veteran Libyan leader Kadhafi would likely head the list.

"We are almost ready for trial," Moreno-Ocampo said in a statement. "The Office collected good and solid evidence to identify (those) who bear the greatest responsibility," he said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iKbQJeulW2yCEVrSIJpoG0gPDGfg?docId=CNG.dd035276a74a1dfc4910aded0e7a6b3b.221

They only have a staff of about 250 IIRC, and he clearly said that none of the witnesses were in Libya because of fear for their lives. So I suppose that means that it's farther along than any other case. That's just incredibly fast, and that court has far more strict rules of evidence and procedure than US courts (though I know the objections to that statement most neocons have).

I checked earlier to see if the judge had scheduled anything -not yet. Overall it looks like everything is in order. Alles in Ordnung, good lord I'm going native.

Interesting that it's not a request for an international warrant.

[Iterate]

14. War crimes prosecutors seek Gadhafi's arrest

War crimes prosecutors seek Gadhafi's arrest
MIKE CORDER, Associated Press
Updated 04:33 a.m., Monday, May 16, 2011

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court prosecutor asked judges Monday to issue arrest warrants for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and two other senior members of his regime, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians in a crackdown against rebels.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo says Gadhafi, his son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi ordered, planned and participated in illegal attacks.

He said Gadhafi's forces attacked civilians in their homes, shot at demonstrators with live ammunition, shelled funeral processions and deployed snipers to kill people leaving mosques.

...

"Gaddafi's forces prepare lists with names of alleged dissidents. They are being arrested, put into prisons in Tripoli, tortured and made to disappear," he said.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/War-crimes-prosecutors-seek-Gadhafi-s-arrest-1381098.php

[meow mix]

15. K&R

go rebels

[tabatha]

16. For those who find the terminolgy unsettling as I have noted before

A poster, Bobbaz, had this explanation: " When Gerhard's starts saying Nato will wipe out Gadaffi troops on East (or West) Tripoli, you know it's total nonsense! That's not in Nato's remit I'm sorry to say. For a convoy of Gaddafi troops on the road heading towards FF held territory, Nato will take out the lead vehicle and the last vehicle.....delay awhile, so that troops can make up their choices to abandoning vehicles or not.....before destroying the remaining assets. The only exception it seems was the Mar 19th Benghazi convoy due to the urgency."

For regulars of this blog Gerhard has explained NATO tactics before - as you explained taking out first and last vehicles to let other troops have the chance to escape their vehicles, or hit one tank of a dug in group and wait 30 mins or so before hitting the rest etc. Gerhard has made it clear on previous posts that 'wiping out' means destroying military hardware and command structure so that a unit is no longer an effective fighting force, and it is not about a massacre of ground troops.

It is certainly worth empahisising this for those not used to Gerhard's terminology; nobody on this blog advocates wholesale killing of Libyan government soldiers, many of whom we know are acting under duress or have been misled and would not otherwise be fighting their fellow countrymen.

on Libya Live Blog 41 minutes ago
i think another hot night is coming in tripoli
daffis units weaker,mercs in fear,and a lot more ff in the city

on Libya Live Blog 1 hour ago
there is a warning to stay away from any goverment property.

on Libya Live Blog 1 hour ago
nato is in work now to wipe out checkpoints in tripoli using tanks ore bmp

[Yosarian71]

21. That is one of the tragedies of this situation

So many of Gadhafi's troops are conscripts and lied to, and in many ways victims in their own right. Unfortunately, those troops are enabling the horrific actions of the rest of them. The officers of the regime have a moral duty to resist or take responsibility for the actions of their comrades. "I was following orders" is not an adequate defense in this situation. There are alternatives of defection, desertion or surrender, and there are rewards for pursuing those alternatives. Many of the regime troops are pursuing those alternatives. Unfortunately, for those troops that remain on Gadhafi's side, they have to bear the consequences of that decision.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

17. K&R nt

[Iterate]

18. Of the 25 largest Libyan cities, 21 were reported to be in open revolt.

I can find no authoritative reports of revolt or mass protest over the past 90 days in Sabha, Sirte, Hun, or Awbari, though that doesn't indicate there were none.

Recent tweets and bits of reporting suggesting unrest and repression (such as ones mentioning the removal of satellite dishes from homes in Sirte) may simply indicate that the People's Revolutionary Committees are still strong enough to control the reporting, but not necessarily the dissent.

Together, those 21 cities and towns represent approximately 78% of the population. The smallest of them is al-Jawf, with a population of about 18,000. I have not included the smaller towns near the city districts which were in revolt were in that population sum, towns which may be either too small to mount a demonstration or where the citizens may simply have gone to the nearest city to protest or fight. It's not unlikely though that they supported the revolt if one was nearby, and silent if there wasn't.

If the count is extended to all cities above 10,000 in population, the ratio would be 43 reporting revolt, and 7 unknown. Including any towns smaller than that is likely to simply be an artifact of chance and limited reporting.

Another way to look at it is by the 22 districts of Libya. In that case, the largest/capital cities in each district reported at least mass protests in 16, and there were 6 with no reports. Those 16, taken in total, represent about 89% of the population, with the others being either very large and sparsely populated or the districts where large military bases are located (e.g. Sabha).

A note on "protests": Besides Saif al-Islam Gaddafi's "four red lines", 10% to 20% of Libyans work in the People's Committees, primarily in surveillance and security. Dissent is illegal under Law 75 of 1973. It alone is punishable by life in prison.

There is also the Law of Collective Punishment, passed in 1997, which allows the state to sanction entire families, towns, or districts for the wrongdoing of individuals.
Read more: http://www.meforum.org/878/libya-and-the-us-qadhafi-unrepentant

"Law 71 still criminalizes political parties, and the penal code criminalizes the establishment of organizations that are ‘against the principles of the Libyan Jamahireya system’.”"

"Law 19, “On Associations,” requires a political body to approve all nongovernmental organizations, does not allow appeals against negative decisions and provides for continuous governmental interference in the running of the organization. "
Read More: http://pubrecord.org/world/8938/libya-price-being-tone-deaf/

If that won't do 'ya, articles 166, 178, 206, and 207 should pound home the message. You don't protest when there is a Peoples' Committee Member in still in town unless you're pretty sure you have them outnumbered by a wide margin.

A note on population counts: What a mess. I used the official 2006 count, even though later population totals are much larger (hence the use of percentages). After going through it as best I could, all I can say is that you should not be surprised if there is a new census soon after the revolution. Districts have been shifted often, there is no detail of exactly who has, and has not, been counted in the census totals. Place names are not standardized. But the data I used suits the purpose and is the best available for it.

[tabatha]

19. News and videos

1:20pm:Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a Monday press briefing that a political negotiating process should begin in Libya and that wants to meet with Libyan opposition representatives “soon.” Russia voted against the UN Security Council resolution authorising force to protect civilians in the country. Lavrov said that Libyan opposition represenatives had to “delay” their visit to Moscow for “technical reasons.”

1:15pm:The ICC Chief Prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif Al-Gaddafi and Abdallah AlSenussi

12:54pm:ICC Chief Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo says his team has gathered so much evidence that he is almost ready to go to trial. However any case is likely a long way off as the court has no police force to arrest suspects. An international arrest warrant would however make it hard for Gaddafi to live in exile. Because the Security Council ordered the ICC investigation, all U.N. member states would be obliged to arrest him if he ventures into their territory.

12:30pm:Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the days of Gaddafi’s regime were “numbered” and that some within the Libyan government were looking for a way for their leader to go into exile.

12:15pm:Gaddafi’s regime has offered a truce in return for an immediate NATO ceasefire.Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi proposed the truce on Sunday to the visiting United Nations special envoy, Abdul-Ilah al-Khatib.Regime officials told the UN envoy they were “open and ready to fully engage”, Nesirky said. No mention was made however of the Libyan offer of a ceasefire.

http://feb17.info/

Eman Obeidy’s Family Speaks
Eman Al Obiedy is a middle child, a law school graduate from Al-Bedha University, she went to Tripoli to finish her master in Al-Zawia University, Eman became world renowned and an icon of the revolution when she broke the wall of silence by getting into the Rixos Hotel despite heavy security and told journalists her story, Alive In Libya met with Eman’s family who are about to travel to Qatar to hear Eman’s story from them.
http://youtu.be/d8a8l7pINE8

Liberation of Dafniya area
http://youtu.be/5zzZl0ontiw

Rwaysat area destruction
http://youtu.be/VwYRspmATJk

Reporter's comments on Libya (may be repeats)

An ITV journalist speaks to a Libyan Youth Movement
http://youtu.be/YHuTr7hH3Rk

An account of the Libyan people from the Times
http://youtu.be/MPhOhmwuPd8

[tabatha]

22. Tweets and reports

Benghazi: A group of Gaddafi agents were caught trying to blow up the Tibesti hotel. They were paid 150,000$ to do so. #libya #feb17

Defections
LibyanDictator The Dictator
More defections by army officials after Gaddafi ordered #Misrata to be "completely wiped out" a few days ago. #Libya #Feb17

LibyanDictator The Dictator
Info that all defected officials are under threat of assassination. Especially not safe in #Tunisia. #Libya #Feb17

Guma_el_gamaty Guma El-Gamaty
by LibyanDictator
Countdown 2 last phase of gadhafi removal starts. G is hiding in place we know! His brigades r disintegrating fast tripoli ready for finale

ICC
archbhoo‎ China, Russia,India,France co-operated with ICC on Libya. next move for Srilanka...can expect in few days. United Nation and World working.

I_Hate_Hippies‎ RT @AJELive: Ocampo: The evidence shows Muammar Gaddafi personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians. #Libya

DianeLibya‎ RT @4Adam: ICC needs to add to its list Mu'tasim Gaddafi who publicly incited murder to the Libyan people t.co/StRNcVD #Libya #Feb17
http://youtu.be/v2IVtf92TkM

NATO
armonicas‎ RT @ChangeInLibya: "NATO repeats its warning to the people of #Libya to stay away from any military equipment inc aircraft, vessels, ... - More »
Twitter - seconds ago

sara055‎ RT @jocarva: 16:47 Reuters NATO is broadcasting to Gaddafi's forces on Libyan army frequencies #libya #feb17

KhaoulaBe‎ #NATO issued radio messages to #Gaddafi forces urging them to abandon G's tyrannical regime. #libya

NATO says explosives and dummies found on Libya boat
BRUSSELS, May 16 (Reuters) - NATO said its warships found explosives and mannequins on a small boat off the Libyan port of Misrata on Monday, in what they believe was a plan by Muammar Gaddafi's forces to lure ships and destroy them.

A NATO statement said the boat was abandoned when NATO forces approached to check two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) heading towards the rebel-held port. The other craft escaped at high speed.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/nato-says-explosives-and-dummies-found-on-libya-boat

Al-Gaddafi arrest warrant ‘a step towards justice’
The International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s request for an arrest warrant for Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi is a step towards justice for the victims of human rights violations in Libya, Amnesty International said today.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said on Monday he was seeking warrants for Al-Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and military intelligence chief Abdallah al-Sanussi on two types of crimes against humanity – murder and persecution.
http://amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/al-gaddafi-arrest-warrant-%E2%80%98-step-towards-justice%E2%80%99-2011-05-16

Obeidi rapists: 'We are the Gaddafis, we will stay in power
New interview and video.
During the interview Obeidi also makes clear the motive for the assault was the fact she came from eastern rebel-held Libya.

She explained: "During the attack they insulted people from the east. I was asking them 'What did I do wrong?' I didn't do anything, all I did wrong was being from the east. That was clearly stated in my ID.
http://www.channel4.com/news/obeidi-rapists-we-are-the-gaddafis-we-will-stay-in-power

[Yosarian71]

23. Gamaty

Is he a NTC official?

A few of the twitter accounts, such as Rowley and Sof, seem to announce what they would like to happen instead of what has actually happened.

Apparently the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to get involved, and the general response is they can get lost. As one twitter account (LibyaSteadfast) pointed out:

"Whose helping us now? NATO. And where was this 'brotherhood' when the hordes of G descended upon Benghazi?"

[tabatha]

25. It looks like it. Here is his twitter feed.

http://twitter.com/#!/Guma_el_gamaty

Since the Libyans are courageous enough to have put their lives on the line and fought as hard as they did, and having lost so many people - they will not put up with any crap at all. They want a free, secular, democratic society and nothing else.

[Iterate]

24. Saif Gaddafi: dictator's son who mingled with British high society

Saif Gaddafi: dictator's son who mingled with British high society
Libyan leader's second son, named as a war crimes suspect, built a network of powerful contacts in London

Robert Booth guardian.co.uk, Monday 16 May 2011 17.38 BST

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, named as a war crimes suspect by the chief prosecutor at The Hague on Monday, was a magnetic presence for British politicians, bankers and business people in London who wanted to deal with oil-rich Libya without the awkwardness of dealing with the international pariah his father had become.

He built up powerful establishment links in a broad range of areas ranging from university education and politics to high finance, architecture and publishing. His contacts included the billionaire hedge fund investor Nat Rothschild, the Labour peer Lord Mandelson and the architect Lord Foster.

His network around the capital was unashamedly high-end, mixing with only the most powerful people in the best hotels and restaurants, people who knew him in London have told the Guardian.

In his tastes he was more like an international playboy than the powerful son and likely heir to one of Africa's longest standing dictatorships. Two years ago he moved into a £10m house complete with suede-lined indoor cinema not far from an area of north London known as Billionaire's Row.

more...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/saif-gaddafi-dictator-son-british-high-society

He's certainly not the reflective type, but I hope he lives to have his regrets and little else.

[Iterate]

26. Western mountains update

Map: Everyone seems to be tweeting the NYT map rather than the old one I liked. I lose, the NYT wins: http://goo.gl/coAUO

It all seems constantly confusing, except that in essence there are two highways paralleling the mts. one north of the range and one on the south. Gaddafi forces move E-W on those roads in the N. pulling into towns (which has given them Nato cover), then shelling three cities in particular this week, from W to E, Zintan, Yefren, and Qalaa. FF have taken the southern highway w. of Yefren. Gaddafi forces can't cross the mountains, FF can't venture too far out onto the plains to the north.

One town, Ryayna, 15km e. of Zintan, is populated by Algerians and Mauritanians brought in by the government and given houses, a move that is understood by the local Berbers was a way to control them. The immigrants are not actively fighting for either side, but they are giving refuge to Gaddafi forces who pull in and fire on Zintan. It's not tribal conflict, because they aren't a tribe.

Today though there were youtube videos of Islamic clerics from the area announcing alignment with the TNC from public squares. I suspect this is why.

Fighting in Libya pits neighbours against each other
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE74D0CI20110516?sp=true

4Adam Adam
#Zintan Fuel crisis in #Nafusa http://twitpic.com/4y503n http://twitpic.com/4y51lk http://twitpic.com/4y51ov http://twitpic.com/4y51wq
15 Mai

4Adam
Witness:Last night around 9:30pm, #Gaddafi forces shelled #Zintan with GRAD Missiles. The shelling was random. (cont) http://tl.gd/afps3a
15 Mai

@4Adam: May16th Arryayna (W #Yefren) has joined #Nafusa rebels issued a statement confirming their support #feb17 & NTC http://t.co/6c5tCAv #Libya

@4AdamAdam Mon: #NATO jets raid Al-Qa'a arm depots 35km south #Zintan. A very strong explosion was heard from the city.

To the east, Yefren and Qallaa are in worse condition as far as supplies:

@RRowleyTucson: #Gaddafi forces hit ancient village of #AitBakhbou ( #Yefren) & nearby homes

@Guma_el_gamaty FF waiting 4weapons&Aid #Yefren & #AlQalaa : 2 months NO:electr. hospitals, medicines, food SHORTAGE; supplies water

@4Adam: #Nafusa: Bombardment of #Zintan by Grad missiles. #NATO jets raid Gaddafi's armored vehicles south of the #Yefren near Ghanymma

@ShababLibya: Report from #Nafusa mntn #Yefren #Qala: > 100 rockets launched resulted in fires starting & destruction of many civilian homes

LPC #Yefren: : Updates on clashes, captured material, and overall situation. #Libya
1 day ago
http://audioboo.fm/boos/357356-lpc-yefren-english-updates-on-clashes-captured-material-and-overall-situation-libya

Ancient Mountain Civilization
All across Jabal Nafusa there are ancient ruins that are about 4000 years old. Yes Libya has history and lots of it!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61235870@N07/5724356902/in/set-72157626729304838/

I can't post the pix because rights are withheld, but it's worth a quick look at a 4000 year old village.

ETA:
RRowleyTucson: #Gaddafi missiles hit the ancient village of #AtBukhboo #Yefren 32°3'55"N 12°32'39"E

LPC #Jadu: Gaddafi forces hit ancient village of Ait Bakhbou (Yefren) & nearby homes
http://audioboo.fm/boos/358668-lpc-jadu-english-gaddafi-forces-hit-ancient-village-of-ait-bakhbou-yefren-nearby-homes-feb17-libya

[Iterate]

28. @Thanku4theAnger Tripoli: Internal security building in Sough AlJuma burnt down

THANKU4THEANGER
http://Tributefm.com:

Zawiya: ambush killed Brigadier Shushan & his escorts, 1 martyr, Tripoli: Gergaresh G Forces batallion tent & cars burnt, 1 tank blown up in Mawashy st in Saraj area, internal security building in Sough AlJuma burnt down

Thanku4theAnger Tributefm: 40 Gaddafi soldiers captured in Kufra & 13 captured in Misrata at Tawerga #tripoli #May17 #feb17 #libya
vor 2 Minuten

Thanku4theAnger THANKU4THEANGER
Zawiyaaaaa! ambush by Freedom Fighters killed Brigadier Shushan, an infamous Gaddafi General & his military escorts with 1 martyr

ChangeInLibya Mhalwes
von Thanku4theAnger
An appeal from NTC/Ben. to all Gaddafi regime forces/officials "lay down you weapons and just walk away or join us tomorrow" #libya #feb17

THANKU4THEANGER
NATO strikes 3 targets in Sabha! Ldaen factory thought to shelter Mercs, Ammo depot near Mountain hotel & Hamza agricultural project West Sabha.

@Libya17Feb: #Tripoli Call: "Ghait Ibrahim (the one responsible of bringing over 5000 Mercenaries) is believed to be detained by the FF in #Kufra" 1/2
2 days ago via web

That one last is two days old and not confirmed. FYI, for two days there have been no reports/tweets other than these two concerning the east from Kufra to Jalo to Ajdabiya.

On Monday 16th May 2011, @AlmanaraMedia said:
Press Solidarity: The Freedom fighters stopped 2 convey of Diesel that were trying to sneak through the river from #Ajdabiya to #Brega.
Almanara Media
16/05/2011

[tabatha]

29. The Family of Mohamed Nabbous, Benghazi's decay under Gaddafi, Gadhafi’s hired terrorists

Opposition fighters have controlled the Wazin border crossing for nearly 3 weeks (with video)
http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/05/video-opposition-fighters-have-controlled-the-wazin-border-crossing-for-nearly-3-weeks/

Summary of Moreno-Ocampo press conference In a press conference, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said there is evidence that Gaddafi personally ordered attacks on unarmed civilians. “Gaddafi’s forces attacked civilians in homes and public space, shot demonstrators with live ammo, used heavy weaponry against participants in funeral processions and places snipers to kill those leaving mosques after prayers,” Moreno-Ocampo said.

There is further evidence that such persecution is still ongoing in areas under Gaddafi control. Forces prepare lists with names of alleged dissidents and they are being arrested, tortured or forced to disappear.

Moreno-Ocampo said that while most of the victims are Libyans, the widespread attacks affect the international community as a whole because the crimes committed are crimes against humanity.
http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/05/summary-of-moreno-ocampo-press-conference/

The BostonGlobe: 10:42pm: Libya is entering the third month of fighting since a rebellion began in February. Collected here are pictures of the rebellion and daily life in the country of over six million. – Lane
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/05/libya_rebellion_continues.html

Video: Families freed in Al Krarim Families in an area known as Al Krarim that have been hiding in their houses for 3 months have finally been freed due to the Freedom Fighter’s liberation of the area which is south of Misrata.
http://feb17.info/media/video-families-freed-in-al-krarim/

Mercenaries in Libya: Gadhafi’s hired terrorists In Libya, terrorism has a different, yet disturbing face, where hired mercenaries are terrorizing the Libyan opposition. Senior NATO officials have received information that Moammar Gadhafi is spending millions to hire mercenaries from the Polisario Front in Algeria and elsewhere to help fight the U.N.-backed coalition and quash Libyans who oppose his dictatorial regime. Credible sources report that hundreds of Polisario mercenaries are being paid $10,000 each by Gadhafi to cross Algeria into Libya to fight NATO-led forces and kill Libyan protesters and rebels.

In other words, the Polisario Front, which touts itself as a human rights champion and gets millions in humanitarian aid from the U.S. and Europe through the United Nations, is letting its members take up arms against U.S.-allied NATO forces, in defiance of the U.N. Security Council mandate, and join Gadhafi’s military campaign against the people of Libya.
http://feb17.info/news/mercenaries-in-libya-gadhafi%E2%80%99s-hired-terrorists/

Abdullah Senussi: Libyan ‘executioner’ blamed for repression of Benghazi Abdullah Senussi, Muammar Gaddafi’s brother-in-law and intelligence chief, must have been an easy choice for the prosecutor of the international criminal court: his close association with the worst excesses of the Libyan regime goes back many years, and he reportedly played a key role in attempting to crush the Benghazi uprising when it began, in February.
http://feb17.info/news/abdullah-senussi-libyan-executioner-blamed-for-repression-of-benghazi/

Libya’s Benghazi laments city’s decay under Gaddafi
The decaying structures in the east Libyan city are a symbol of the neglect the people of the region say they suffered under Muammar Gaddafi, whose control of Libya’s east was ended by mass protests and an armed uprising in February.

Now that his writ has ended, Benghazi can openly lament the damage and isolation that 41 years of his rule has wrought.
http://feb17.info/news/libyas-benghazi-laments-citys-decay-under-gaddafi/

The Family of Mohamed Nabbous
http://youtu.be/F0whhzcrZr8
http://alive.in/libya/2011/05/16/the-family-of-mohamed-nabous/

[UnseenUndergrad]

30. How do these threads get buried so fast?

Bumping for visibility.

And to all those saying this is the Iraq shennanigans all over again...

(blows raspberry)

[joshcryer]

31. We've moved to a weekly update mode.

Daily threads are very demanding and pinboy3niner has obligations to take care of this week, and next week I will have a very demanding schedule (to the point I may not have even been able to do daily threads). If things heat up we can always go back to daily threads, I know that pinboy3niner appeared to enjoy doing updates every few hours, but I cannot ask anyone to do that, so this new format should lower the demand on everyone. Right now for instance I have some major cleaning to do (the bachelor life is extraordinarily dirty, I'm realizing, to my own shame), if I had to muster a daily thread I'd be up until the wee hours of the morning cleaning! So it helps a lot.

So don't worry if it doesn't get the visibility that it used to enjoy, it's better to post several updates into one post as to avoid a supremely large thread post count (doing a rough guess if we had all done per-post updates this thread would be over 50 posts by now). We may have to actually do two posts for a week if it turns out that this format busts 100-200 posts and people start complaining. People may not appreciate how much goes into these threads, it's nearly thousands of reports weekly.

So it's best to avoid bumping it unless you have several reports to post, otherwise the post count will explode in a weeks time! :hi: (Please don't take this as unappreciative though, we love our silent supporters, it's partially why we do this, but also because we want to support the Libyan Revolution to whatever capacity we can muster).

[joshcryer]

32. Libyan Revolution Day 89 updates below, current time in Libya, 4:06am Tuesday, May 17

[tabatha]

33. Libyan rebels step up operations, Gaddafi officials headed to Moscow, Liberation of Al Krarim

Libyan rebels step up operations
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/multimedia/video-and-audio/detail.dot?mediaInode=a7db82f0-ca0d-4a3f-84a9-bf9bc4cf99c7

The Complicated Hunt for Gadhafi's Billions
The German bank Commerzbank received an unusual transfer order in late February. The amount was €1.9 million ($2.7 million) and the bank was instructed to immediately transfer the funds from a Commerzbank account to a foreign account with another bank.

The holder of the Commerzbank account was Saif al-Arab al-Gadhafi, born in 1982, the presumed youngest son of Libyan autocrat Moammar Gadhafi. The dictator's son, who had been living in a villa in Munich's Waldperlach neighborhood, suddenly left Germany and returned to Tripoli -- a sad loss for those members of Munich's jet set that had become accustomed to attending the younger Gadhafi's wild parties.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,762748,00.html

Gaddafi officials headed to Moscow
Representatives of Moammar Gaddafi's government head to Moscow on Tuesday, as Moscow calls for political negotiations. And: remembering Saif's last visit.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/bric-yard/gaddafi-officials-headed-moscow

Libyan Officials Threaten to Use ‘Human Shields
Borrowing a page from Saddam Hussein’s old playbook, officials tied to the government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi on Monday threatened to post “human shields” at telecommunications sites under threat of NATO bombing.
Multimedia

The warning came a day after Britain’s top general was quoted as saying that NATO would have to broaden its bombing campaign to include infrastructure targets in Libya to prevent Colonel Qaddafi from “clinging to power.”
http://feb17.info/news/libyan-officials-threaten-to-use-%E2%80%98human-shields%E2%80%99/

Video: Liberation of Al Krarim
Fierce clashes between Freedom Fighters and Gaddafi forces in Al Krarim, South of Misrata.
http://feb17.info/media/video-liberation-of-al-krarim/

I like this new format a lot - it also is easier to read, because there are fewer posts to look through and hence fewer misses. I liked Iterate's comprehensive reports today, as well. There is just one further suggestion, though. I sometimes want to make a non-newsy comment, but stop myself from doing that so as not to add to the posts. Could a daily comment thread, without an elaborate OP be started, where "frivolous" comments could be made. It would be easy to start a new one each day. Heck, anyone could do that. It would be much like the photography group for photo contests - where one thread is used for submissions and another for comments.

[al bupp]

34. CNN: ICC to investigate institutionalized gang-rape of women in Libya

The Hague, Netherlands (CNN) -- Security forces in Libya are allegedly using sexual enhancement drugs as a "machete" and gang-raping women they stop at checkpoints, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo told CNN Monday that the court in The Hague will investigate allegations of institutionalized rape in the war-torn country.

"There are rapes. The issue is who organized them," Luis Moreno-Ocampo told CNN's Nic Robertson. "They were committed in some police barracks. Were the policemen prosecuted? What happened?" he asked.

Moreno-Ocampo said the criminal court has information about women who were stopped at checkpoints and, because they were carrying the flag of the rebels, were taken by police and gang raped.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/05/17/libya.rapes.icc/index.html?hpt=T2">Entire Article

[joshcryer]

35. ICC accuses Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam & Senussi, NATO strikes Tripoli

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/gaddafis-war-crimes-suspects">Gaddafis named as international criminal court suspects
Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and his intelligence chief, Abdullah Senussi, were accused of crimes against humanity by the chief prosecutor for the international criminal court, who called for their arrest for orchestrating a campaign of mass murder against Libyan pro-democracy protesters.

Saif Gaddafi's indictment for committing atrocities against civilians will profoundly embarrass the wealthy and influential circle of friends he cultivated over eight years studying at the London School of Economics and living a playboy's life in Hampstead.

According to prosecution documents, his image in the west as a moderniser and reformer, often at odds with his autocratic father, was a carefully crafted sham.

...

"This is a new direction for the ICC in the sense that an individual closely associated with the establishment in many western countries now finds himself the subject of an indictment," Sands said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/abdullah-senussi-libya-benghazi-repression">Abdullah Senussi: Libyan 'executioner' blamed for repression of Benghazi
Abdullah Senussi, Muammar Gaddafi's brother-in-law and intelligence chief, must have been an easy choice for the prosecutor of the international criminal court: his close association with the worst excesses of the Libyan regime goes back many years, and he reportedly played a key role in attempting to crush the Benghazi uprising when it began, in February.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC prosecutor, described Senussi as Gaddafi's "righthand man, the executioner". But Senussi was more than a hard man in one of the most repressive regimes in the post-cold war world: his brief extended to political and PR strategies after Gaddafi abandoned terrorism and his WMD programmes in 2003 and sought a complete makeover.

Senussi's current whereabouts are unknown, but in mid-March, a month into the uprising, officials in Tripoli still spoke of him with respect and fear. Rumours that he had been arrested could not be confirmed. The ICC described him as "personal adviser to Gaddafi on security services, policy and military matters", saying its evidence was that he is still active as head of military intelligence. Whatever his position, he is one of the Libyan leader's ahl al-Khaimah (people of the tent) – Gaddafi's very closest entourage.

Senussi, 62, was blamed for the killings in Benghazi as well as for the recruitment of foreign mercenaries. Later reports from the rebel capital described how he had been sent there to "keep a lid on the situation". Senussi first appealed for an end to protests but made clear that if they persisted there would be a violent response. Bloody repression followed and the uprising spread to Tobruk and al-Bayda.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/16/saif-gaddafi-dictator-son-british-high-society">Saif Gaddafi: dictator's son who mingled with British high society
Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, named as a war crimes suspect by the chief prosecutor at The Hague on Monday, was a magnetic presence for British politicians, bankers and business people who wanted to deal with oil-rich Libya but not with the international pariah his father had become.

He built powerful establishment links from university education and politics to high finance, architecture and publishing. The billionaire hedge fund investor Nat Rothschild, the Labour peer Lord Mandelson, and the architect Lord Foster were among his contacts, while Oxford University Press was going to publish his book, Manifesto, which called for civil society and participatory democracy in Libya. In it, Saif wrote: "I believe it is the duty of the people to rebel against tyranny." OUP cancelled publication in February "because of recent events in Libya".

To some who knew him in London he seemed more like an international playboy than the powerful son and likely heir to one of Africa's longest-standing dictatorships. Two years ago he moved into a £10m house complete with a suede-lined indoor cinema not far from an area of north London known as Billionaire's Row.

Priceless. :rofl:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/libya-nato-air-strikes-tripoli">Nato air strikes hit Libyan government buildings
Nato air strikes have hit two Libyan government buildings in Tripoli, including the interior ministry, setting them on fire.

The attack prompted a government spokesman to suggest the ministry, which is responsible for internal security, was targeted because it contained files on corruption cases against senior members of the Benghazi-based rebel leadership.

The latest strikes on Gaddafi's stronghold came just hours after the international criminal court's (ICC) chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants for the Libyan leader, his son and the country's intelligence chief for authorising the killing of civilians in a crackdown on anti-government rebels. Gaddafi's government has denied the allegations.

The move by the Netherlands-based court was its first one linked to the Arab uprisings. It opened another potential front against Gaddafi's regime even as the autocratic leader stands firm against widening Nato air strikes and rebels with growing international backing.

[joshcryer]

36. Libya's top oil guy leaves post, Russia tells Libya to cease fire, more human shields for Gaddafi

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/uk-libya-idUKTRE74E1I420110517">Libya's top oil official has left post - rebels
The chairman of Libya's powerful National Oil Corporation (NOC) has deserted his post and defected from Muammar Gaddafi's administration, rebels fighting to end the leader's 41 years in power said on Tuesday.

Rebels said they did not know the whereabouts of Shokri Ghanem and there was no independent confirmation or comment from Libyan authorities. Arab television channels reported late on Monday Ghanem's defection and said he had left Libya.

"As far as we know he has left his post, this is as far as we know in the past 24 hours," rebel finance and oil minister Ali Tarhouni told Reuters during a visit to Doha, adding that he did know where Ghanem was.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/uk-libya-russia-idUKTRE74G2GV20110517">Russia calls for truce in Libya after Moscow talks
Russia called on Libya on Tuesday to stop using force against civilians, part of a drive by Moscow to secure a truce between supporters of Muammar Gaddafi and rebels who are fighting to end his 41-year rule.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russian officials told a Gaddafi representative who travelled to Moscow that Libya must comply fully with U.N. Security Council resolutions and withdraw armed groups from cities.

This is a definite change in Russian policy. Definite.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/16/uk-libya-telecoms-idUKTRE74F6R720110516">Libya says telecoms staff to act shield against NATO
Libya said on Monday that tens of thousands of telecoms workers would act as human shields to deter NATO strikes on communications infrastructure, which it said had inflicted serious financial damage.

Speaking to reporters at a government-organised news conference in the capital, a man who identified himself as one of more than 20,000 workers in the sector read a statement vowing to guard telecoms installations with their lives.

"We, the telecoms workers, are present with our families and children around the clock and in shifts to protect this utility," it read.

"We will be human shields to confront any aggression or bombing aimed at continuing destruction of the communications infrastructure."

[Yosarian71]

38. Is this a change in Russian policy?

It has seemed from the start that Russian policy was for this whole problem to just go away as fast as possible. When the rebels were losing, Russia did not want to help them. Now that they are winning, Russia wants Gadhafi to give up.

Given China and Russia's status, both semi or non-democratic and both with large Muslim minorities, they are not particularly excited about widespread revolution, and would prefer for the Arab Spring to end ASAP.

Edit: also worth pointing out that Russia has significant oil interests in Libya. One way or another, they just want the fighting to stop.

[Yosarian71]

37. Heinz commentary

not much happend today
only in the western mountains ff are in progress and seize a lot of weapons and amu
only west of zlitan there are not much daffi troops left
only the daffis compound between misrata and sirte are in retreat to sirte without material
only daffi run out of secure places
only tripoli is surounded
only daffis mercs on run after hit on their camp in tripoli
only without a ceasefire and time to regroup troops the war is lost for daffi
and even with ,it takes some days more
okay not much happend today ......stalemate

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-0

Clear commentary directed at journalists.

[tabatha]

39. Someone added some info about Heinz

He is retired with 40 years in Luftwaffe, and has his own satellite business.

He seems to have a following from people all over the world that follow that blog.

And from other comments, it appears that he cannot wait for the war to end to go visit Libya, and that some of the friends he has made via that blog would like to visit a post-war Libya, too.

On edit, here is the PDF of the ICC complaint:
http://nifcrimes.com/Libya_redacted.pdf

[joshcryer]

49. Mo's mentioned in that.

:cry:

[tabatha]

40. Libyan cash may be hidden in desert, Mohammed Nabbous’ Family (Translated),NATO actions

Libyan cash may be hidden in desert
10:01 AM Farhat Bengdara was, until he defected, at the heart of the Libyan regime as central bank governor. As rebels began the uprising against Muammer Gaddafi, Bengdara flew to Turkey and began to help the other side. In this revealing interview with the FT's Middle East editor Roula Khalaf, he describes where Libya's gold is kept, how Gaddafi may have foreign reserve cash hidden in the desert and the powerful effect of western sanctions. (8m 44sec)
http://video.ft.com/v/946393675001/Libyan-cash-may-be-hidden-in-desert

2:50pm:At least four Russian-made Grad rockets landed on Tunisian territory on Tuesday near the border with Libya, a Reuters reporter at the scene said. The reporter said the rockets landed in the desert near the Dehiba-Wazin border crossing in southern Tunisia, causing no damage. The rockets were fired from the Libyan side of the border, where Libyan government forces are clashing with rebels.

1:00pm:A Tunisian security official Tuesday said that Libya’s oil minister has defected and fled to Tunisia.Shukri Ghanem, the head of the national oil company and Libya’s oil minister, crossed into Tunisia by road on Monday and defected. The official, based in the border region, wasn’t authorized to speak to the media. Mr. Ghanem is one of the highest profile Libyan officials to defect

2:45pm:British Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft have attacked a Qadhafi regime military camp in Tripoli. The aircraft struck just after midnight, using Paveway IV bombs to destroy the target. As in all NATO attacks, a full set of checks was carried out to minimise collateral damage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfD9MNW7Ahk

12:35pm:Maj Gen John Lorimer British Chief of Defence Staff’s Strategic Communications Officer and Ministry of Defence spokesman on military operations explained last nights attacks on Tripoli on twitter. The follow tweets by @MajGenLorime summarizes what occurred.

Last night RN Tomahawk missiles and RAF aircraft attacked intelligence agency buildings used by Colonel Qadhafi’s Executive Protection Force.
The facilities that were struck lay at the heart of the apparatus used by the regime to brutalise the civilian population. #Libya.
One of the facilities which was hit is known to play a significant role in the collection of information by Colonel Qadhafi’s secret police.
The other facility which was hit was a headquarters for the External Security Organisation, commanded by Abdullah Sanussi. #Libya.
The Executive Protection Force acts as the bodyguard for the inner circle of the regime, and is also entrusted with other sensitive tasks.
Vehicles at the base have been identified as having been involved in the bloody suppression of public demonstrations in Tripoli on 4 March.

Video: Interview with Mohammed Nabbous’ Family (Translated)
http://feb17.info/news/video-interview-with-mohammed-nabbous-family-translated/

http://feb17.info/

NATO Ups Siege on Libya With Bombs, Leaflets
NATO is stepping up pressure on the Libyan government's strongholds with targeted aerial attacks and psychological warfare operations.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/north/NATO-Airstrikes-Pound-Libyan-Government-Buildings--121987449.html

[Iterate]

41. Fallen Qaddafi Soldiers Receive Respect, if Not Honors

Fallen Qaddafi Soldiers Receive Respect, if Not Honors
By C. J. CHIVERS
Published: May 17, 2011

MISURATA, Libya — The gravediggers worked methodically and with few words. By now their grisly labor was a routine.

The corpses of the soldiers of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, wrapped in cloth or plastic sheets, had arrived in trucks. The men who would bury them sprinkled perfumed powder on the dead men’s burned or bloodied brows. Then they prayed. A quiet processional began.

The gravediggers carried each corpse over the sand and lowered it inside a waiting box. Each was placed right shoulder down, left side up. In this way, all of the dead men faced Mecca. At last the gravediggers closed and covered the tops of the boxes. Then came the wait for the next truck, which would bring more.

The final formation for many of the Qaddafi soldiers who put Misurata under siege lies in a solitary plot beside the Mediterranean Sea. The gravediggers have been busy. By last Friday they had interred 358 dead soldiers in all.

more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/world/africa/18cemetery.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytimes

[tabatha]

42. ChangeInLibya twitter, KiloFoot twitter

ChangeInLibya Mhalwes
Misrata: "Libyan regime says it hit a NATO warship during an exchange of fire after the (NATO ship) shelled Misrata - Reuters"


“@NTC_of_Libya: Local media representatives from the Nafusa Mountains have put out an emergency call for help” #libya
Gaddafi forces are currently conducting extremely heavily attacks along the Tunisian border (Wazin)

Tripoli: Freedom fighters and citizens in the capital print piles of anti-gaddafi "leaflets" and put them on rooftops for wind to disperse
Rumours of NATO dropping leaflets on #Tripoli are not confirmed. Freedom fighters have printed 20k+ leaflets and distributed them. #libya

Libyan General to Brnieq: Abu Baker Younis Jaber, one of Gaddafi's main generals & chief of staff was shot by the latter for refusing orders
Libyan General to Brnieq: Khamis Gaddafi died on the 20th of March 2011 after the Kamikaze attack on Bab Al Aziziya #libya #feb17
Libyan General to Brnieq: Mutassim died in NATO strike. Khamis died in Kamikaze attack & Gaddafi shot his chief of staff for refusing orders

CONFIRMED NOW : Aisha & Safiya wife #2 #Gaddafi in #Djerba #Tunisie #libya

90 days since the Libyan revolution started. #May17 #Feb17 #tripoli
Tunisian/Libyan border: Wazin crossing is still safe. Freedom fighters repelled a very big attack and were victorious. #libya #feb17

@BelethS They tell military installations to evacuate people and have been doing so for 3 months now - it's legit don't worry I can confirm
URGENT: Warn your #Tripoli contacts, #NATO demands evacuation of #Siyahi vicinity of Oil Institute #Tripoli WEAPONS ARE HIDDEN THERE! OUT!
@ChangeInLibya spoke this morning with misurata after 6 wks. They called me from landline. Been told 60% of the town destroyed. Moral sky hi

Misrata BREAKING: Electricity is now fixed and available in every part of the city! And soon phone lines will be repaired too. #libya
Nalut: BREAKING: Another victory for freedom fighters north-west of Nalut (Mrabah) where Gaddafi forces lost 2 vehicles & fled north.
BREAKING: ALL Libyan State TV channels have been taken off the second most popular Arab satellite, Arabsat.

KiloFoot's Libya only feed
http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23Libya

Libya local councils gather in Benghazi
Local councils from 25 Libyan towns and cities, including Tripoli, flew to Benghazi last week-end in a move to unify the rebel ranks and forge a common vision for the future of Libya.

The participants exchanged information on things fare in different parts of the war-torn country and reiterated their support for the National Transitional Council (NTC) as a legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

The forum started with remarks from NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who said that the 31-member council would be expanded to represent all of Libya. Former Libyan diplomat Adel Zidane thanked the participants for "helping to end this nightmare".
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/05/17/feature-02

Tunisia warns Libya over "enemy actions"
TUNIS, May 17 (Reuters) - The Tunisian government may report Libya to the U.N. Security Council for committing acts of an enemy, Tunisian television reported on Tuesday.

Tunisia considers recent acts carried out by its neighbour as "enemy actions," the broadcast said, citing a government communique.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/tunisia-warns-libya-over-enemy-actions/

[Iterate]

43. The Gaouda Family Massacre

The Gaouda Family Massacre
From Free Libya: http://newlibya.com/
May 16th, 2011

There are particular events in history that entire nations will never forget. Stories are passed down from generation to generation, to keep them alive. Grandparents will recount events to their grandchildren as if they happened yesterday.

My story is about a crime committed by a bunch of terrorists who didn’t possess even the most basic of human feelings. Libya and its people suffered horrific and tragic events when the Italians invaded Libya destroying it and killing its people whether they were a part of the Libyan resistance or not. Without discrimination crimes were committed against men and women, young and old…all this in an attempt to bring a new civilization to the shores of Libya. Destruction, murder, and concentration camps were just a few of the crimes the Italians committed against the Libyan people.

And of the many war crimes, one in particular is the Gaouda family massacre in Benghazi. Benghazi- the city that witnessed the battles of Jiliana, Garyounis, the two palms or “Nakhlatain”, and many other battles…as the grandfathers of today’s revolutionary freedom fighters fought bravely to defeat the Italians and send them home.

For many years, after Libya’s independence up to 1969, April 5th of every year was the day Libyans remembered the Gaouda family massacre in which a group of the Italian soldiers broke into the home of Salah Gaouda firing bullets at the family members and throwing explosives inside the house. Salah Gaouda was the father of Ali Gaouda. Ali Gaouda was born in the year 1898 in Benghazi. He played a major role in the fight against the Italians with his fellow Mujahedeen. Ali Gaouda fought in many battles, and was one of the strategists of the battles that took place, in all parts of Libya.

Get the whole story...
http://newlibya.com/?p=113

What a wonderful website. Current news of the day, stories, media (with a nice musical selection). Here is a sampler of a couple of the articles:

May 16th, 2011
Libya is Not…

From the outside looking in, the situation in Libya looks like any other war-torn African nation rife with civil war and division along tribal/cultural/ethnic lines. Images of raggedy desert soldiers using make-shift weapons and homemade tanks conjure up memories of conflicts in the Ivory Coast, Liberia, and many more. Factor in the child soldiers in Libya along with foreign involvement from NATO and the United States supporting the rebellion and one can’t help but …

Read entire article » http://newlibya.com/?p=118

May 12th, 2011
The Life and Times of Umar Al Mukhtar

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem By: آدم أبو لحية Who was he Umar al-Mukhtar bin Omar bin
Farhat Al Mnifee was his full name, he is also widely know as the Lion of the Desert. He was born in the year 1862 (the date is unknow) and was executed by the Italians on September 16, 1931. He was from the Mnifa tribe, and was born in the small village of Janzour, near Tobruk in eastern Barqa. The Lion is named Near …

Read entire article » http://newlibya.com/?p=44

[Iterate]

44. Nafusa Mountains update

Gaddafi forces get weaker by the day, and at this point they amount to a couple of roving columns of tanks, missile launchers, and BMPs that are still dangerous, but cannot hold the area.

This group attacked near the Tunisian border:

wheelertweets vor 10 Minuten
WAZIN UPDATE: 6 FF's killed today by Grad missiles from #Gaddafi forces. 3 from Nalut, 2 from Jadu, 1 from Arrehibat (30km W of Jadu) #libya
WAZIN UPDATE: FFs defended critical border crossing yet again today. It was closed to thru traffic 4 safety reasons but remains free. #libya
WAZIN UPDATE: Some #Gaddafi guys fled across the border to Tunisia & some rejoined other G forces. 2 G men confirmed dead & 1 G spy captured
WAZIN UPDATE: Fighting today started around 8am & lasted till about 5pm. #Gaddafi forces used Grad missiles & snipers. #libya #nafusa

LPC #Jadu: Gaddafi forces trying to control Wazin gate, attacked gate itself & Mrabha #libya
about 7 hours ago
http://audioboo.fm/boos/359266-lpc-jadu-english-gaddafi-forces-trying-to-control-wazin-gate-attacked-gate-itself-mrabha-libya

LPC #Jadu: 4 people killed in clashes at Wazin, as Gaddafi forces attack border crossing #libya
about 7 hours ago
http://audioboo.fm/boos/359273-lpc-jadu-english-4-people-killed-in-clashes-at-wazin-as-gaddafi-forces-attack-border-crossing-libya

LPC #Jadu: Clashes at Wazin ongoing, as Rebels reinforce defenses at border crossing #libya
about 7 hours ago
http://audioboo.fm/boos/359276-lpc-jadu-english-clashes-at-wazin-ongoing-as-rebels-reinforce-defenses-at-border-crossing-libya

UPDATE 1-Tunisia warns Libya over border shelling
Tue May 17, 2011 8:17pm GMT
TUNIS May 17 (Reuters) - Tunisia warned Libya it would refer Tripoli to the U.N. Security Council if it continued to commit "enemy acts", Tunisian media reported on Tuesday.

Tunisia considers recent acts carried out by its neighbour as "enemy actions," a television broadcast said, citing a government communique.

The warning is linked to the "continuing firing of rockets by Libyan forces towards Tunisian territory," the state-run TAP news agency reported, citing a source at the Foreign Ministry.

The shelling violates Tunisian territorial sovereignty and puts its citizens at risk, the source said.

"The Tunisian government views those acts as belligerent behaviour from the Libyan side who had pledged more than once to prevent its forces from firing in the direction of Tunisia and has failed to respect its undertakings," the source was quoted as saying.

more...
http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE74G2C820110517

ShababLibya LibyanYouthMovement
#Nafusa mntn #Nalut : G forces launched rockets towards Tunisia; 1 Tunisian soldier injured in the Th’heeba area on Tunisian/Libyan borders
vor 54 Minuten

AJE has this video report on training recruits in the Nafusa Mountains

Libyan rebels train on the job
Opposition fights Gaddafi forces while receiving military training.
Last Modified: 17 May 2011 17:33

The battle for Libya ignited quickly, with many civilians giving up their jobs to take up arms in the struggle against Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
Now these opposition fighters are fending off pro-regime soldiers while they simultaneously receive basic military training from senior personnel.
Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel-Hamid reports from Libya's Western Mountains.

Source: Al Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/africa/2011/05/2011517161649132299.html
Text

In the central/western part of the range on the northern side:

ShababLibya LibyanYouthMovement vor 1 Stunde
#Nafusa mntn #Nalut: #Gaddafi forces are destroying the possessions of the people of #Tkuit. #libya #feb17 #gaddaficrimes
#Nafusa mntn #Nalut: FFs forced G forces to retreat far from the obstacle that FFs built to block marching into mntn area of #Marabeh cont.
#Nafusa mntn #Nalut: #G forces used bulldozer in attempt to break blockade & continued shelling using Grad missiles near border chckpnts
#Nafusa mntn #Nalut: Snipers from G forces moved through #Tunisian grounds & take positions on mntn. FFs are trying to deal with them.

And we have this unusual posting of photos an almost traditional ceremony marking the defection of some government troops, posted on facebook. What a world.
#Nafusa mtn #Jadu: Celebration of a new patch of soldiers of the national army have joined the FFs http://goo.gl/It8cj

To the east at Yefren:

#Nafusa mntn #AlQala: None of FFs were injured. G forces have been attacking all day-5 rockets fell on trees & civilian region of #Fawsi.
#Nafusa mntn #AlQala: FFs destroyed military vehicle belonging to the G forces & killed 1 during attack carried out on forces in #Saffeet.
#Nafusa mntn #Yefren: sounds of 3 bombs dropped by coalition forces on G forces in #Al-Ghnayma entrance (Naj’a) & Al-Awiniya S .of #Yefren

Because the FF block the E-W highway S. of Yefren, that last attack by Nato was critical.

Finally, there was this:
#Nafusa mntn #Zentan: Coalition forces bombed G weapon storages S. #Zentan-final explosion witnessed here was strongest yet-G forces fled E.

Remember last week when Nato bombed a weapons storage facility that set off a 1.4 kiloton explosion, sending a cloud to 20,000 ft? That's the same facility. Again. Only bigger.

ETA
feb17voices: LPC #Jadu: Rebels anticipating intensified attacks throughout #NafusaMoutnains, as Gaddafi forces seen moving in multiple locations #libya
less than 20 seconds ago via web ·

That's one of several reports at this minute indicating trouble there for the morning.

[Iterate]

45. Libyan Revolution Day 90 updates below, current time in Libya is 1:23 AM on Wednesday, 18 May

[al bupp]

46. Map: Schematic battlefield plan of Misrata as of May 17

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/05/map-schematic-battlefield-plan-of-misrata-as-of-may-17/">LibyaFeb17.com Link

[tabatha]

47. Commentary on map above; videos; ICC Annexes

Additional comments by FunGuerillaz:

“Advance on Zliten, Tawergha and clashes there. Front lines didn’t change much because regime forces have entrenched in Zliten, Tawergha and fell back to the Desert Road in the centre in Tawergha to cover their retreat; In Zliten to block the way to Tripoli. The Desert Road is also important to hold because it links Sirt & Tripoli. Getting it would be a serious blow to the regime. On events on the central front sector Tamena-Farms.”

“I dont have info about the central front sector (Tamena-Farms). Furthermore, the front line in the salt marsh does not really exist as in the salt marsh, there is no real front LINE. Anybody staying there with vehicles is a sitting duck for artillery. Therefore: no line.”

“Not advancing in the centre will be a problem because of possibility of regime forces in the centre to attack the flank at Zliten or Tawergha. On the other hand, advancing in the centre would enable to attack regime forces in Zliten and Tawergha in encircling movements.

Video: Benghazi Libya, Aid & weapons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNAoYYlskUE&feature=player_embedded

Video: Ajdabyah Libya, Advance on Brega
http://youtu.be/-5IRjbFdpWw

Video: Benghazi Libya, Bread and Gas
http://youtu.be/l7Of75P78z4

http://feb17.info/

Prosecutor’s Application Pursuant to Article 58 as to Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar GADDAFI, Saif Al-Islam GADDAFI and Abdullah AL-SENUSSI
Annexes
http://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/exeres/D13CF33C-D29E-4093-A519-00B4BCC54FA7.htm

The War in Libya’s Western Mountains
“While much attention has been focused on rebel efforts in eastern Libya and in the city of Misurata, rebels have held control of most of the Nafusah Mountain region since the unrest began in February,” my colleagues Sergio Peçanha and Joe Burgess explain in the introduction to a fascinating, richly informative graphic on the fighting there.

Last month, after the rebels in these remote mountains made an unexpected show of strength, seizing a border post along the Tunisian frontier, my colleague Scott Sayare reported that “the region’s isolated hamlets were among the first to join the uprising,” fueled by simmering resentment from a Berber community which was neglected by Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s Arab nationalist regime.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/the-war-in-libyas-western-mountains/

Tripolitanian Libyan
Unconfirmed reports that #Gaddafi has assassinated his top military commander, Abu Bakr Jaber for refusing orders. | #Libya

[Yosarian71]

48. Heinz on Zliten

about zlitan
daffi burn 70 % of a brigade there in the moment in a battle ground-troops against airforce.
easy to know who will win
sorry but my cat have more brain.
after this the way to tripoli is free.

alex 1911
why zlitan take so long?
there are a military scrap yard west of zlitan ,in the moment .and the idiot who rules the troops from daffi bring more and more pilot feed to the szenario.he want to hold zlitan under every condition.
i have never seen in any other konflikt since the ww1 an more senceless aktion.
and this battle will go into military history
how to kill my soldiers as quick as possible

[joshcryer]

50. NATO denies attack report, Libya won't deny oil head defection, Tunisia pissed about Grad rockets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/nato-denies-libyan-report-attack-on-warship">Nato denies Libyan report of attack on alliance warship
Nato officials have denied Libyan reports that an alliance warship had been struck in the Mediterranean off the contested port of Misrata. "We have no reports whatsoever of any engagements," said a spokesman at the Naples headquarters of the Nato mission in Libya. "We have no reports of any of our vessels in that area being engaged."

At Nato HQ in Brussels on Tuesday night, officials also reacted with bemusement to the report carried by Libyan state TV. "There's nothing to it," said one. "There's no ship in the range that it could be fired on."

...

Earlier on Tuesday, wing commander Mike Bracken, Nato spokesman in Naples, said the alliance had foiled two Libyan regime dinghies seeking to attack Misrata from waters off the coast. One vessel sped away; the other was said to have been holding a metric tonne of Semtex explosives.

"It was a floating booby trap," Bracken said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8519558/Libyas-oil-minister-defects-in-blow-to-Gaddafi-regime.html">Libya's oil minister 'defects' in blow to Gaddafi regime
Shukri Ghanem, who is also head of the state oil company, crossed the border into Tunisia at the weekend, and has defected, according to Tunisian government officials.

The oil and finance minister for the Libyan rebels, Ali Tarhouni, said that Mr Ghanem had left his post. Mr Ghanem and his family were seen at a hotel in the Tunisian town of Djerba but left yesterday morning (tue) for an unknown destination.

A Libyan regime spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, said the government had tried to reach Mr Ghanem but had been unable to. "If he did , this is his business," Mr Ibrahim said. "It's not a big deal for us."

Arab newspapers claimed yesterday that Gaddafi's eldest son, Muhammed Muammar Gaddafi, had also left the country for "medical treatment" in Tunisia, along with other officials including the head of the customs agency and the country's representative to the Arab League.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/17/libya-refuses-to-deny-claims">Libya refuses to deny claims that oil minister has fled country
The Libyan government is refusing to deny claims that the oil minister has fled the country in the second high-profile defection from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime since the two-month air campaign began.

Shukri Ghanem, who had been oil minister since 2006 and was prime minister for three years before that, is believed to have contacted officials in Tunis after arriving there on Monday.

Libyan officials said they had been trying unsuccessfully to contact Ghanem for the past 24 hours. He is believed to have crossed the border into Tunisia and shortly afterwards made clear his intention to defect.

"He is in Tunisia, but we don't know what he is doing there," said government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim. Another official said Ghanem was on a "diplomatic mission" to bring about a ceasefire. However, a spokesman for the interim Transitional National Council in Benghazi said he had contacted the group in recent weeks and was looking for a way to flee.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/uk-libya-idUKTRE74E1I420110518">Tunisia demands Libya stop cross-border shelling
Tunisia's state-run TAP news agency said the government would threaten Libya with diplomatic action over the "continuing firing of rockets by Libyan forces towards Tunisian territory," violating its territorial sovereignty and putting its citizens at risk.

"The Tunisian government views those acts as belligerent behaviour from the Libyan side who had pledged more than once to prevent its forces from firing in the direction of Tunisia and has failed to respect its undertakings," TAP quoted a foreign ministry source as saying.

Earlier on Tuesday at least four Russian-made Grad rockets fired from Libya landed inside Tunisia, according to a Reuters reporter at the scene.

Rocket attacks by government troops forced Libyan rebels to pull back briefly from the Dehiba-Wazin border crossing, but they ended the day in control of it despite a sustained bombardment that killed three rebels and wounded several.

[Yosarian71]

51. Heinz updates 5/18

My thoughts: I think Heinz has had a tendency to be a little optimistic about the status of the war, but directionally he has been correct. He was the first to report that Brega was essentially a big POW camp.


daffis army lost a lot of soldiers this night ,by going home.
the problem are the mercs now about 50% of the troops from daffi-clan.
its start to become more a fight libyens against mercs.and this is one reason even daffis own tribe tell him to go

western mountains
air strikes over night on daffis troops.
strenghtness of them 20% from the beginning.
ithink out of range from yefren today

interesting thing
there is comunikation on military level between saif and some officers inside tripoli.
so saif is a legetim target now.
we will see for how long he can hide in a hole

the last fight
will be ,between daffis mercs and libyens in short time.
and i think it will be a bloody one on mercs side

some updates
brega
the ring comes closer today ,with some results.
zlitan
daffis troops in hopeless position there ,a lot of them give up.
western mountains
daffis troops on the way back to desert away from mountains.
yefren will be clear soon
coastal way to tunesia blocked by ff.
tripoli
a lot of resistance inside the goverment
saif can trust nobody any more
3 possibillitys for him
shot by own man
die by drohne attack or bomb
catch by ff
may be he try to escape

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-0

[Iterate]

52. LIBYA: Looming threat of scattered munitions in the east

LIBYA: Looming threat of scattered munitions in the east
May 18th, 2011

CAIRO, 16 May 2011 (IRIN) - There is so much ammunition and unexploded ordnance (UXO) scattered across eastern Libya that local people will face a serious threat when they return home. However, it is difficult to determine the exact quantities because of ongoing fighting, experts say.

"In Tobrouk and Benghazi there are munition bunkers that were destroyed by forces prior to the establishment of the no-fly zone," Tekimiti Gilbert, spokesman for the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), said. "Gaddafi's forces bombed the bunkers to deprive rebels of weapons. As a result, a lot of ammunition is spread across a wide area on the surface of the ground.

"Because there was access to bunkers, local people are scavenging for scrap metal for re-sale and also explosives which can be used for fishing," he told IRIN.

UNMAS is working with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Libyan Red Crescent and other partners to try to contain the problem. "In Ajdabiya, clearance of UXO in the city has started," Gilbert said. "But we have a situation of people scavenging inside insecure munition bunkers and large areas to cover.

more, at the IRIN website:
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=92721

Also found here, but they get second billing because they can't spell:
“War-Waste” of Rockets, Shells and Morters Facing Local Libyans
Green Prophet | May 18th, 2011
http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/05/war-waste-libya/

This video is confirmation of tweet from last night and shows the scale of the problem. The entire area around that bunker will be littered with unexploded munitions and will be a no-go zone for civilians for years.

Coalition blows up a Zintan Libya Weapons Store! 5-15-2011
http://youtu.be/x29rjK6Xdko

Here's a radical pro-peace idea: a 10% surcharge on all weapons sales, all of them, given directly to the UN to fund cleanup of this type. Or 20%. Pretty straight-forward, it should take no more than a year to institute. I hope that's not too naive of me.

[tabatha]

55. Misrata's War Museum

Misrata's 'War Museum', a collection of everything that #Gaddafi threw at the city in an attempt to subdue it.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.210928192280575.55948.179449562095105

[CJvR]

98. Looks more like a garage sale.

Gaddafi regime bankrupt! Everything must go!

[Yosarian71]

53. Gadhafi, rebels vie for loyalty of Libya's tribes

If you want to get stupider quickly, read this article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43049164/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

I can't believe that three months into the conflict, "experts" are still publishing this tribes drivel. Obviously there are regional differences in Libya, just as there are regional differences in the United States. The southeast of the U.S. is primarily conservative Republican and the northeast is primarily liberal Democrat. Must be tribal. So for a Democrat to win office, he has to hold onto the tribes in the northeast and west coast, and win support from the key "swing tribes" in Ohio and Florida. Republicans can not win a national election without holding onto the moderate Virginia and North Carolina tribes in the south. See how ridiculous that sounds?

The use of the term "tribal" in this situation is mildly derogatory and bigoted, implying a bunch of fierce warriors riding around on camels, when in fact most Libyans live in urban areas.

[al bupp]

54. I agree not very insightful

The article is largely UBTP (Unencumbered By The Thought Process) and defeats its own argument w/ the following quote in reference to tribal "influences", which is buried midway through the piece, after much discussion of tribal history:

"Libyans themselves are keen to stress that they have no role in the politics of the state"

The upshot is that Gaddafi replaced all civic and political associations made illegal by his regime w/ what amounts to complicit gangs organized around largely outdated tribal relationships, as you say, much like regional "relationships" here.

The comments section below will definitely raise the blood pressure of anyone who's paid attention to the events there.

[Distant Observer]

61. Cyrenaica is a historically distinct province. Factional opposition to Gaddafi in Cyrenaica

is a longstanding reality. Libya is not monolithic and that is why the rebels have from the beginning resisted calls for internationally supervised ELECTIONS. It is not at all clear that the rebel factions would win a general election even though the have full support in some areas -- unless they first achieved military dominance.

As much a we want to pretend otherwise, we do not know whether or not we are supporting what could be come minority oppression of the majority population of Libya.

[Yosarian71]

62. The NTC

This statement appears to be pretty clear to me about their objectives.

http://www.ntclibya.org/english/the-statement/

While my crystal ball is broken, I am confident that the NTC will at the very least make a strong attempt to establish a civil democracy in Libya. Gaddafi, on the other hand, is a murderous tyrant that is engaging in systematic detention, rape, torture and murder of civilians and political opponents. His positions on democracy are pretty clear.

[Iterate]

66. The People's Committees are everywhere.

Of the 25 largest Libyan cities, 21 were reported to be in open mass protest. All except Sirte and the military towns like Sabha. Even those are looking a little shaky now.

I'm not sure how Gaddafi would campaign from Scheveningen prison, but he does still have six protesters marching for him in Tripoli. Come to think of it, I still have those leaflets I printed for you to hand out.

One of them says: "Single family rule is oh so 19th century." and another "Join the liberation or I'll get out my Green Book and start quoting it." Cool.

[joshcryer]

71. Misrata and Gharyan (Al Jabal / western mountains) are part of Tripolitania, both against Gaddafi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misrata_Governorate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jabal_al_Gharbi_Governorate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripolitania

Area-wise the rebels represent the vast majority of Libya. Population-wise it's objectively over 20%. Or 5-10 times Egypt and Tunisia combined.

[tabatha]

73. It is a whole new generation, united for freedom.

They are living it ---

Check this: Media groups of #JabalNafusa are connected with media groups in #Benghazi, #Misrata and #Tripoli. #Feb17 #Libya

The world is getting smaller, and people are becoming more united - certainly the Arabian peoples all want the same thing, freedom.

Celebrate and enjoy the cultural differences - celebrate and enjoy the community similarities.

[al bupp]

56. AJE Live Blog: Tripoli Update

From: http://twitter.com/Wyrmdale">Wyrmdale via http://blogs.aljazeera.net/live/africa/libya-live-blog-0">AJE Live Blog

*********** UPDATE FROM TRIPOLI MAY 17, 2011 ***********
Tripoli is very cautious at the moment, there are no wide spread public protests in Tripoli as everyone expected.

Security was intensely high today, there were a lot of trucks present. The military was dressed in civilian clothing.

There were isolated incidents in Ben Ashour, Soug Al Juma'a, and Bou Seta districts. Fifteen to twenty people attacked the battalion forces with rocks and escaped unharmed.

The district of Bou Seta was very active at one point; a group of four Tundra trucks with four or five
batallion men that were attacked by protesters in three different directions; they dispersed immediately as they were fired at. Others joined in by throwing rocks at the trucks.

The Saraj Attack: a big blaze occured in a cornered off area, people could not see what was happening exactly. It is believed that a tank was attacked however there is no confirmation of this.

A speaker was hidden in Algeria square (video of this was tweeted a few days ago) outside a mosque at maghreb (prayer at dusk). Using a mobile control the speaker was turned on and the anthem of the independence was blasted. Many, many people smiled. A man in civilian clothing ran upto the speaker and kicked it into silence. No one cheered for this man.

It has been confirmed that the independence flag was dropped/drapped in the medical school. There is an ongoing boycott by the university students, the only people present in the university are Gaddafi loyalists.

Shops are largely shut and do not operate; a lot of boycotts. The atmosphere is positive due to the gains in the East and the NATO bombings on Gaddafi targets in the city.

The more NATO boming, the better it is for the people of Tripoli.

People are encouraged by Abdul Jalil going to Europe and gaining more international recognition.

A lot of tension remains in the streets of Tripoli, no one is sure of what the turning point of events will look like; what will spark things? Who knows?

The fuel is rare, bascially no fuel at all. Lines are very long and last for four days atleast. Food stocks are low and very expensive but there is enough food however everything is domestic, nothing imported left.

Many of Gaddafi forces are present however they are very disorganized. With regards to the speaker story in Algeria square, military men were present. When the anthem played, police noticed but walked away and did not act on it, a military personel was also present and walked away without reacting.
Gaddafi forces are not as intense, many are believed to be waiting to defect.

A lot of the batallion forces are wearing civilian clothing, driving black cabs carrying Green flags and many armed men.

A group of military students planned a mass defection, they were all slaughtered.

Activists groups have a lot of updated info as they have connections with the TNC. In terms of individuals, Seif Al Islam is controlling every inch of Tripoli.

As for security the indvidual driving the Tundra trucks seem to be the 'big guys'. The biggest weapon used by Gaddafi's forces is intimidation in the form of mass arrests. These mass arrests are occurring daily.

Mass propaganda on Libyan State TV is still occuring, but obvious signs of a weakening desperate regime are growing day by day.

Bombing in Tripoli has been escalating as well.

Protests occuring all over Libya have been positive for Tripoli; there are very few Gaddafi supporters left. There are around 10 or a few more supporters left at Bab Al Azayziya (Gaddafi's compound). Pro Gaddafi marches are miniscule with no more than six people, "I'm embarrassed for them!".

Message from Tripoli to the world: "BE OPTIMISTIC"
********* Updates from a brave citizen reporter from Tripoli (Niz) to whom we are very grateful for. *********

(Formatted for ease of reading)

[tabatha]

57. Tweets and Juan Cole commentary

#Libya: Italy drops 400,000 leaflets over Tripoli. First Italian PSYOPS mission over a foreign capital since 1918
http://bit.ly/jaZUsx

Dhiba: BREAKING: Local radio station says that a big group of Libyan Gaddafi soldiers are negotiating surrender to freedom fighters #libya

Red Crescent volunteers and medical personnel in danger - #libya #feb17 -
libyafeb17.com/2011/05/red-cr…

ICC prosecutor warns Libya to abide by UN rules :Reuters: bit.ly/lG9QDR via @addthis #Libya#feb17
bit.ly/lG9QDR

EnglishTranslat'n:Algiers to NTC:.Guarantee sealing #Algeria border,stop departure..Polisario mercenaries->#Libya
http://tinyurl.com/3h2gxkc

Clare Morgana Gillis of The Atlantic, James Foley of GlobalPost, Spanish photog Manu Brabo, & UK photog Nigel Chandler freed in #Libya #cnn

RT @amnesty Latest blog from Amnesty researchers in Misratah #Libya on families devastated by shelling
http://owl.li/4Xq46

Libyan Government Investigated For Viagra-Fueled Gang Rapes - Jezebel: Malaysia StarLibyan Government Inv...
http://bit.ly/luTO5l

ICRC team has cleared 300 unexploded devices from houses and streets in Ajdabiya - #libya #feb17 -
http://t.co/h7DfNX6

WTF "Gaddafi regime due to receive oil shipment this weekend, despite sanctions - #libya #feb17 -
goo.gl/x2l8R

RT @dovenews: Gaddafi to import fuel from Turkey this weekend
http://goo.gl/ioSgA #libya

#Misrata Red #Crescent reports that in the past 4 days 3 ambulances have been hit in 3 separate incidents
http://goo.gl/GTgFe #Libya

Tripoli’s Gradual Collapse: ICC Indictment of Qaddafi and Ghanem’s Defection
Libyan Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem has defected from the Qaddafi regime and fled to Tunisia.

This defection is a big deal. Ghanem had been at OPEC when Libya was under economic sanctions, and his return to Libya as prime minister and head of the ruling party in 2003 was intended to signal Muammar Qaddafi’s return to respectability in the international community. Ghanem became the face of the reformed Libya, which had given up its dabbling in chemical and other weapons and was willing to privatize its state sector industries and do big deals with Western oil companies. He staunchly defended Qaddafi, going so far as to, in a 2004 BBC interview, deny the regime’s responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing. Ghanem late became head of the powerful oil ministry. If Qaddafi cannot retain Ghanem, he cannot retain his technocratic elite in general. It is another sign that the regime is collapsing.

The defection is likely in part a response to the International Criminal Court indictment of Qaddafi and his eldest son. Persons who now continue to be right hand men of that regime are themselves in danger of prosecution for war crimes. There are fewer and fewer places regime figures could flee the reach of the ICC. Since Qaddafi has deeply angered Saudi Arabia, even that famed refuge for deposed heads of state is out of the question.
http://www.juancole.com/2011/05/tripolis-gradual-collapse-icc-indictment-of-qaddafi-and-ghanems-defection.html

[Iterate]

58. Stories of Recovery in Misrata

Libya: Red Crescent volunteers and medical personnel in danger
17-05-2011 Operational Update No 05/11

Fighting in Misrata and other cities in Libya is denying medical aid to civilians and causing casualties among health personnel. The Libyan Red Crescent reports that in the past four days, three of its ambulances have been hit in three separate incidents, resulting in the death of a nurse and injuries to a patient and three volunteers. In addition, the ICRC has received allegations concerning the misuse of the red cross and red crescent emblems to support military operations and the use of ambulances to transport arms and weapon bearers.

"All parties to the conflict must refrain from harming injured people, medical personnel, medical vehicles and medical facilities," said Georgios Georgantas, the ICRC's deputy head of operations for North and West Africa. "Medical personnel and ambulances must be allowed to reach the wounded. We reiterate our call to the authorities and to all weapons bearers to respect medical services and the emblems of the red crescent and red cross."

Misrata’s two main hospitals are struggling to cope with the injured, a situation made worse by the fact that many specialized doctors and nursing staff have fled the city. ”Treating critical cases is difficult, and it is currently impossible to treat cancer patients and people with chronic diseases," explained ICRC doctor Gabriel Salazar. An ICRC team last week visited Al Hikma Hospital and the Libyan Red Crescent Hospital, delivering surgical kits and dressing materials. The team evacuated 108 civilians from Misrata to Benghazi. A total of 35 of these patients were hospitalized, with 25 of those having suffered weapon wounds.
Civilians at risk from unexploded munitions in Misrata

"The streets of Misrata have been heavily scarred by the fighting. The scale of the destruction is impressive and there is a large quantity of unexploded munitions lying around," said Herby Elmazi, the delegate in charge of operations to reduce these risks in Libya. "We have assessed the situation in Misrata over three days and can confirm that weapon contamination in the city is placing the civilian population at considerable risk,” he explained. “There is an urgent need to get these devices removed, and we hope to start work on this next week. Our approach will include training local volunteers and providing them with proper equipment so they can clear the most affected areas of the city, making it safe for civilians to move around.”

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/2011/libya-update-2011-05-17.htm

Families devastated by shelling in Misratah
By Amnesty International’s team in Misratah

After a 36-hour journey on a rather rocky fishing boat braving the Mediterranean sea, we arrived in Misratah – a city where the impact of a two-month long siege and heavy shelling and fighting can be seen and felt in virtually every neighbourhood, street and home.

We started by visiting the residential area of Ruissat, south-east of central Misratah. There on 13 May, a barrage of Grad rockets smashed into homes, streets and stores at 12:45pm, leaving behind a trail of suffering and destruction.

Su’ad was mourning the death of her husband, Hassan Mohamed Al-‘rouj, 36, a father of three, who was heading to the mosque, when he was fatally wounded by shrapnel.

A few blocks away, we saw the remains of a children’s bedroom hit by a Grad rocket at 12:30pm on the same day. Safia Abdallah Shahit, having just bathed her children – five-year-old Malak Mostafa Shami, three-year-old Mohamed Mostafa Shami, and baby Rudaina Mostafa Shami who had just turned one – left the bedroom to fix them lunch.

more...
http://livewire.amnesty.org/2011/05/18/families-devastated-by-shelling-in-misratah/

Video: Volunteer work in Misrata
Posted on May 18, 2011 by v1d

Volunteers in Misrata as young as 12 and 14 have begun the clean up process, sweeping through streets and alleyways removing debris and and remnants of war from that have occupied the besieged city for over 3 months.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/
or
http://youtu.be/9tLaFqN3_54

LibyaAlHurraTV: #Misrata:5 year old amputee lost her foot in GRAD attack that killed her two sisters.Going to US for care. #Libya http://twitpic.com/4z3yte

[Iterate]

59. Gaddafi's wife and daughter cross into Tunisia; progress on all fronts

Sky News Newsdesk
Reuters: Colonel Gaddafi's wife and daughter cross border from Libya into Tunisia
vor 26 Minuten

I don't think it's happened yet that there has been at least some progress everywhere.

Kufra and the southeast:

LibyanDictator
Reports that #Kufra fighters with battalion sent from #Benghazi have taken control of #Chad and #Sudan border crossings. #Libya #Feb17

@TributeFM: 40 Gaddafi troops captured in #Kufra today

LibyaSteadfast
http://youtu.be/l20D3TYtq-E Revolutionaries retake #Kufra - an oasis in the Sahara, SouthEast #Libya

Gheblawi: Video: Aljazeera Arabic report from #Kufra http://t.co/AVNA1YW #Libya #Feb17
Arabic, but you'll get it.

Kufra: Electricity is starting to return to Kufra thanks to freedom fighters & some quick repairs (according to AlManara) #libya #feb17 about 13 minutes ago from web

A Misrata extra
Alexblx: Written #Gaddafi Order "It's strictly prohibited to provide residents of #Misrata food,fuel,services"
@Alexblx: Written Regime Order found in possession of #Gaddafi 's Brigades officer - captured in #Misrata http://twitpic.com/4z4ckf/full

Bani Walid:
ChangeInLibya: BANI WALID: BREAKING: Freedom fighters say they seized 75 vehicles most equipped with AA cannons after an attack on a compound
about 2 hours ago via web

@ChangeInLibya I confirm the bani walid , the base attacked is the abu zayd anti aircraft regiment !
vor 1 Stunde

Zintan:
They hope to break the siege of Yefren and Qalaa by blocking Gaddafi forces from its southern access.

ShababLibya
#Nafusa mntn #Yefren 05/18/11: 80% of the food stock & majority of supermarkets/food shops located in #Suuk district in hands of G forces

ChangeInLibya
ZINTAN BREAKING: Using NATO strikes as cover, freedom fighters are now chasing the remaining Gaddafi forces to the south of Zintan!

Yet another video of yet another huge explosion from the arms depots s. of Zintan. Good god.

ZINTAN BREAKING: Missiles falling on Gaddafi's ammo bunkers south of Zintan http://goo.gl/zAwNE (this afternoon)

Zawara, along the coast near the Tunisian border
Nearly unreported resistance has been going on here for about a week.

ChangeInLibya Mhalwes
Zwara: NATO jets are bombing Gaddafi forces in Zwara's outskirts and close to the Ras Ejdeer border crossing via Facebook
Zwara: NATO jets are striking Gaddafi's brigades in the vicinity of Zwara, for the first time since the city was captured by Gaddafi. 3 days ago via web
BREAKING: Unconfirmed reports saying that the reason for NATO's strike on Zwara was to help FF's trying to block Ras Ejdeer border.

Brega:
@ChangeInLibya: Ajdabiya: Aljazeera reports that NATO jets bombed a convoy of trucks/tanks belonging to Gaddafi forces close to Brega
@Liberty4Libya: Defecting Colonel to Berneeq newspaper: Mutasem Gadafi was killed in Brega 3 weeks ago, AbuBaker Younis Jaber was killed by Gadafi.
@Liberty4Libya: Libyan National Army advanced towards Brega today after controling Khor Wagidah north of Brega.

[tabatha]

60. Fabulous video

Benghazi - Backbone of the Libyan revolution
http://youtu.be/0vNWCGDkdWY

[al bupp]

63. A definite +1

Very touching, indeed. I have to admit that it's hard to believe the teen featured at the end actually learned English by watching TV, though it would explain his perfect American accent.

[Iterate]

64. It gives hope for a swift recovery

when the time comes. Important clue too in that video -young people really do like to work hard, they just want to be a respected part of the effort, i.e. the democratic impulse is alive and well.

Two more little things before I sign off for the night:

One darkly comic:
@ChangeInLibya: Rumours of some buildings being evacuated by Libyan soldiers in Tripoli after they got calls from NATO telling them to do so.

And one bit of still unfinished business that everyone had hoped was over:

LibyaNewMedia: Large nrs. of Gaddafi forces are located in the oasis 50 KM southwest of Jalo. They captured a group of revolutionaries today. #Libya
about 3 hours ago via web

LibyaNewMedia: Gaddafi forces in the east have attacked Jakharrah near Jalu, damaging & looting oil installations & other industrial sites. #Libya
31 minutes ago via web

So that gang is still on the loose.

I don't know if I'm just missing them, but it seems like mainstream sources have dwindled. Or maybe I've started unconsciously filtering the repeated stories. Don't know, but tomorrow maybe a fresh look. I guess I don't even bother with the US MSM anymore, and that's probably not a good thing.

You know for all of the "it's just like Iraq" claims, no one seems to have mentioned the difference in coverage. You have a few very good journalists embedded in crappy companies (save one) and one luxurious gilded cage in Tripoli, but most of the people covering it are the participants themselves, either directly or through expat/diaspora relatives who tweet, post, and call in. Very few sites are mentioning it or covering it that way. Never happened before and almost everyone is ignoring that part of it. What a shame.

[joshcryer]

70. Thank you so much for that, will add it to the next OP!

[Iterate]

65. Libyan Revolution Day 91 updates below, current time in Libya is 12:00 AM on Thursday, 19 May

[tabatha]

67. Tripoli activity, Gaddafi's wife and daughter flee to Poland

Strategic importance of Misrata, faster victory for TNC possible (interesting thread, after the OP below)
As many have already noticed, the conflict in Lybia will end with a very high probability with an decisive victory for the anti Ghaddaffi forces.
Lybian high command faces daily growing problems to supply their forces and maintaining operational control at the various fronts.
They are mostly cut of from foreign deliveries and are loosing their ammunition dumps, fuel dumps and command and control centres through airstrikes by the day.
They cannot replace lost equipment and spent ammunition.
Besides some minor egagements at smaller towns they need to cope with three major theaters:

First the eastern front between Brega and Ajdabiya.
There the loyalist forces where able to stall the last offensive of TNC forces as they took defensive positions at Brega.
But every day when the weather permits it Nato and allies air strikes destroy more heavy equipment and strategical assets of the loyalist forces.
It has become a war of atrition at that front, but time is clearly not in favor of Ghaddaffi.
When the training and arming of the TNC forces is sufficient and Nato has destroyed enough heavy arms, the TNC forces will lauch a decisive offensive in that sector (aided by Nato and allied airstrikes).
With a high probability this offensive will lead to a massive rout of the Ghaddaffi forces in that sector, sealing the fate of this conflict.
I believe that in two to five months the TNC forces will be ready to launch this offensive against their weakened enemies, who are attacked nearly every day by airstrikes.
http://www.libyafeb17.com/forums/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=246

Polisario-Libya: Gaddafi loose Algiers
The Algerian authorities are eager to distance themselves from Colonel Qaddafi and quietly have entered into contact with the Libyan opposition sources said from Algiers. As a token of goodwill, Algiers has assured members of the CNT, the National Transitional Council of Libya, Algeria is now ready to guarantee the sealing of borders between the two countries, stopping the departure of the Polisario mercenaries to Libya.

This reversal on the Algerian crisis Jamahiriya was in preparation for some time now. But according to the same source, the decision of Algiers to stand out definitely the Gaddafi regime was precipitated by the decision of the ICC to prosecute the Libyan colonel for crimes against humanity.
http://www.emarrakech.info/Libye-Polisario-Alger-lache-Kadhafi_a56248.html

Tweets
Vdonna‎ RT @Thanku4theAnger: LPC Tripoli: Epic Clashes taking place in Tripoli from around 20 mins. Very intense. It's everywhere.#Feb17 #Libya

gb1204‎ RT @Thanku4theAnger: By the end of the night, there will be good news from Tripoli inshallah : ) #feb17 #Tripoli #May17 #Libya

oldmommatajuri‎ RT @Thanku4theAnger: LPC Tripoli: Epic Clashes taking place in Tripoli #Feb17 #Libya

88simon88‎ RT @Thanku4theAnger: Tripoli: Journalist Mark Stone Skynews reporter currently in Rixos hotel confirms he can hear lots of gunfire from hotel.

Stone_SkyNews‎ I can hear lots of gunfire outside the Rixos in Tripoli tonight. Not v close but certainly audible. Doesn't sound like celebratory. #Libya
Twitter - 33 minutes ago - Tripoli, Libya

Inphinite_‎ RT @libyans_revolt: BREAKING : Polish government confirms the arrival of Gaddafi's wife and daughter from #Tunisia . #Libya #Feb17

Tripolitanian‎ BREAKING: Source says intense gunfire in various locations in #Tripoli, anti-#Gaddafi protests near city center. #Libya

Tripolitanian‎ Very intense gun-fire being heard in Soug AlJum3a (phonetic) district of #Tripoli, #Libya

Libya: Col Gaddafi's wife and daughter 'flee Libya'
Safiya Gaddafi and her daughter Aisha crossed into Tunisia "a few days ago" with a Libyan delegation, according to Tunisian security sources.

The pair are currently at a refugee centre on the island of Djerba. The departure, if confirmed, would be a major blow to Col Gaddafi's embattled regime, already rocked by the apparent defection of the key oil minister, Shukri Ghanem, on Tuesday.

Dozens of high-ranking Gaddafi officials, including ministers and ambassadors, have left the country or abandoned the regime since the uprising began, including the interior minister, Abdel-Fatah Younes al-Obeidi, Ali Abdussalam el-Treki, a former foreign minister and a former United Nations ambassador who had worked closely with Col Gaddafi for decades, and his former justice minister, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, who is now the head of the rebel Transitional National Council.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8522333/Libya-Col-Gaddafis-wife-and-daughter-flee-Libya.html

On edit: another awesome video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tLaFqN3_54

[Yosarian71]

68. Heinz and Twitter believe it is military vs. military

More troops defecting.

Heinz tonight:

no winning or loosing side
but a clash between units east of daffis compound arround 4-5 km
if rixos prisoners can ask goverment tomorrow to go out we will see what happend.
the other little spots are most in the east and north east parts,
goverment must be nervous now.
NO chance for daffis troops in zlitan ,you will see it tomorow.
the rest of the towns on the coast will belong to ff soon.
the bombs yesterday morning hit a nerv,
unconfirmed and not 100% veryfied .one of daffis sons inside the building when hit.but carefull this is not confirmed up to now

i just get some clear pictures in.
there are fights in tripoli between 2 fraktions of army they clashed .fight is ongoing in the moment sporadic .
there are attacks from ff to some points as well .
the prepared reaktion of the regime is then to start a video with the viktory and the celebration,very old trick from the 80.
regime crumble dramatic in the moment,

ok if celebration fire is horizontal with maschine-guns and rpg i missunderstand something in my education.
and it must be celebration.
if not it is a military unit against a military unit fight
you have the choise

[tabatha]

69. Live2Tripoli

Live2Tripoli - has a twitter feed and a Flickr site of Libyan photos. Seems like he is reporting from JabalNafusa and he also reports to TributeFM?

Twitter feed
FF share enemy location and target detail. Media centres assist each other with aid and finance and gear. We are united! #Libya #Feb17

Check this: Media groups of #JabalNafusa are connected with media groups in #Benghazi, #Misrata and #Tripoli. #Feb17 #Libya

Expecting @NATO strikes near #Misrata as #Muammar's forces attempt again to challenge FF there. #Libya #feb17

Thanks @xpeanutgalleryx :) I am not complaining. Just so you see what The situation is here in #JabalNafusa

I am eating high energy biscuits from World Food Program.... This is what it's come to... #Libya #Feb17 #JabalNafusa

#Misrata: Currently no @NATO planes in the sky. #Libya #Feb17

Confirmed from #Misrata #Muammar's forces are hitting Dafniya and also Soug Atlat in Zliton with Grad missiles. #Libya #Feb17

#Misrata: #Muammar's forces are hitting Dafniya with grad and also Soug Atlat in Zliton with Grad missiles. #Libya #Feb17

The regime in #Tripoli explains they are celebrating (gun fire) because people in #Benghazi have turned against #Feb17. Not True... #Libya

Lot's of Strange activity in #Tripoli, lots of gun fire. #Libya #Feb17

Listen to Libyan women on @TributeFM tributefm.com/player.php #Libya #Feb17

Listening to live Amazighy music while fighter jets fly above!! Got a recoding coming! #Libya #JabalNafusa #feb17

@NATO planes in the air for sure! look out katayib (#Muammar's brigades) ...MUuaAhhahahah!! #feb17 #Libya #JabalNafusa

@NATO in the air!!! Let's go !! I can hear planes now! #Libya #Feb17 #JabalNafusa

#Tripoli expecting serious @NATO strikes tonight. I pray that people stay safe and #Muammar's men get blown to bits! #Libya #Feb17

I wish I could listen to @TributeFM, But I have a video to upload and it's killing the bandwidth. I hope you enjoy it...if it gets uploaded

Many youth are being taken away in #Tripoli. It is not a rumour. They number in the 1000s. It's sad I pray they are free soon. #Libya

@NATO strikes ammo bunkers near #Zintan flickr.com/photos/6123587… seen and felt 30km away #JabalNafusa #Feb17 #Libya

Confirmed @NATO has stuck #Muammar's bunkers near #Zintan

Sorry it's about 30km direct from #Jadu(re tweet ammo bunker)

No reprots of @NATO planes in the air, so the strike must have been from the sea. just a few mins ago. #Libya #JabalNafusa #feb17

It seems @NATO struck #Muammar's ammo bunkers near #Zintan I felt it's wind about 50 km away I'll upload a photo soon #Libya #JabalNafusa

#JabalNafusa: BOommmmm and the wind came hard through the windows! #Libya #Feb17

tributefm.com/player.php My update is being played now on @TributeFM #Libya #JabalNafusa #feb17

Was it Sabha or Sabrata that have officially joined #feb17? Any video?

http://twitter.com/#!/live2Tripoli

Flickr Stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61235870@N07/

Maybe the fighting in Tripoli is the forced fighters against Gaddafi loyalists?

ON EDIT --- TOO COOL
He uploaded the video he was talking about to Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61235870@N07/5735696606

Also, the photo of the bombing of Zintan:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61235870@N07/5734541440

[Yosarian71]

79. One more tragic aspect of this

I keep highlighting how tragic it is that these regime soldiers continue to fight, die and kill so that the Gadhafi family can escape. The mother and daughter escaped yesterday, there are rumors that one son is out of the country in Tunisia and that Saadi is trying to escape now and looking for a haven to take him.

Even the family is giving up on this struggle. Why do these soldiers continue to fight?

[joshcryer]

72. Amnesty re: families & shelling in Misratah, ICRC says volunteers in danger

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/2011/libya-update-2011-05-17.htm">Libya: Red Crescent volunteers and medical personnel in danger
Fighting in Misrata and other cities in Libya is denying medical aid to civilians and causing casualties among health personnel. The Libyan Red Crescent reports that in the past four days, three of its ambulances have been hit in three separate incidents, resulting in the death of a nurse and injuries to a patient and three volunteers. In addition, the ICRC has received allegations concerning the misuse of the red cross and red crescent emblems to support military operations and the use of ambulances to transport arms and weapon bearers.

"All parties to the conflict must refrain from harming injured people, medical personnel, medical vehicles and medical facilities," said Georgios Georgantas, the ICRC's deputy head of operations for North and West Africa. "Medical personnel and ambulances must be allowed to reach the wounded. We reiterate our call to the authorities and to all weapons bearers to respect medical services and the emblems of the red crescent and red cross."

Misrata’s two main hospitals are struggling to cope with the injured, a situation made worse by the fact that many specialized doctors and nursing staff have fled the city. ”Treating critical cases is difficult, and it is currently impossible to treat cancer patients and people with chronic diseases," explained ICRC doctor Gabriel Salazar. An ICRC team last week visited Al Hikma Hospital and the Libyan Red Crescent Hospital, delivering surgical kits and dressing materials. The team evacuated 108 civilians from Misrata to Benghazi. A total of 35 of these patients were hospitalized, with 25 of those having suffered weapon wounds.

"The streets of Misrata have been heavily scarred by the fighting. The scale of the destruction is impressive and there is a large quantity of unexploded munitions lying around," said Herby Elmazi, the delegate in charge of operations to reduce these risks in Libya. "We have assessed the situation in Misrata over three days and can confirm that weapon contamination in the city is placing the civilian population at considerable risk,” he explained. “There is an urgent need to get these devices removed, and we hope to start work on this next week. Our approach will include training local volunteers and providing them with proper equipment so they can clear the most affected areas of the city, making it safe for civilians to move around.”

Whoever is using fake ICRC ambulances to support their side needs to stop that shit. I know Hamas has done it before. But the ICRC comes short of saying who is doing it. Gaddafi has had no problem going after aid ships and personnel, though, so it's not like one can say he wouldn't do it.

http://livewire.amnesty.org/2011/05/18/families-devastated-by-shelling-in-misratah/">Families devastated by shelling in Misratah
After a 36-hour journey on a rather rocky fishing boat braving the Mediterranean sea, we arrived in Misratah – a city where the impact of a two-month long siege and heavy shelling and fighting can be seen and felt in virtually every neighbourhood, street and home.

We started by visiting the residential area of Ruissat, south-east of central Misratah. There on 13 May, a barrage of Grad rockets smashed into homes, streets and stores at 12:45pm, leaving behind a trail of suffering and destruction.

Su’ad was mourning the death of her husband, Hassan Mohamed Al-‘rouj, 36, a father of three, who was heading to the mosque, when he was fatally wounded by shrapnel.

A few blocks away, we saw the remains of a children’s bedroom hit by a Grad rocket at 12:30pm on the same day. Safia Abdallah Shahit, having just bathed her children – five-year-old Malak Mostafa Shami, three-year-old Mohamed Mostafa Shami, and baby Rudaina Mostafa Shami who had just turned one – left the bedroom to fix them lunch.

:cry:

[pinboy3niner]

74. The Killing Seas

Op-Ed Contributor

By HANS LUCHT

Published: May 18, 2011
Copenhagen

...


For years, European countries paid Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi to control the flow of African migrants like Ebo across the Mediterranean — even if the methods were inhumane. Now, armed Qaddafi loyalists are forcing migrants onto the high seas to protest the NATO airstrikes in support of Libya’s rebels. African and Asian migrants are the pawns in this brutal geopolitical faceoff.


The corrupt participation of the Libyan authorities in human smuggling to southern Europe is an open secret. Ebo told me his journey had been arranged by a group of young Libyan policemen. The Qaddafi regime itself has used migration, or the threat of it, for political leverage. Tellingly, when the protests broke out, Colonel Qaddafi warned Europe not of an oil embargo or new terrorist attacks but that “millions of blacks” could be on the way if he were overthrown.

...


The Italian money has been used to finance Libyan detention camps in which migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are held for indeterminate periods. In 2009, the Jesuit Refugee Service in Malta found that detainees had been sexually harassed, beaten and punished with stun guns. One migrant explained that her uncle was left for dead in a pile of garbage after being beaten and tortured with electric shocks; two days later, somebody realized he was still alive.


The willingness of European leaders to strike deals with Colonel Qaddafi demonstrates that high-risk, undocumented migration to Europe is no longer seen primarily as a humanitarian concern, but as a security threat that justifies harsh preventive measures. It also shows how close to betraying European ideals some leaders are willing to go.


As Colonel Qaddafi plays his migration card anew, Europe must ensure that the Mediterranean does not again become a mass grave for African asylum seekers.

...


In the long run, Europe should learn from the situation in Libya that paying dictators to make “problems” disappear is not only morally bankrupt but also short-sighted. ....

...


Hans Lucht, an anthropologist at the University of Copenhagen, is the author of the forthcoming “Darkness Before Daybreak: African Migrants Living on the Fringes in Southern Italy Today.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/opinion/19lucht.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[joshcryer]

75. Good to see you pinboy3niner.

Hope you're well. I have to get to work or I'd try a post.

Well hell, here's one I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHvatXApfZk

Interview with a young man tortured by Gaddafi's people (journalists who were detained reported hearing similar stories, btw).

[Iterate]

76. Video: How Misrata is adapting to life under conflict

Video: How Misrata is adapting to life under conflict
Posted on May 19, 2011 by admin

The United Nations has again called on opposing sides in the conflict in Libya to agree to a temporary ceasefire to allow more food and medical supplies to reach civilians.

Around Misrata, sporadic fighting continues to hamper efforts to distribute relief. But there are signs the city’s residents are adapting to the conflict, and some sort of normality is returning to life there.

The BBC’s Andrew Harding reports from inside the city.

more...
http://www.libyafeb17.com/
or
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13450129

[Iterate]

77. Video report: Religious controls lifted in Benghazi

Religious controls lifted in Benghazi
Once banned religious gatherings now free to operate in opposition-held Libyan city.
Last Modified: 19 May 2011 12:17

In Libya's eastern city of Benghazi, the opposition's version of governance is in full swing.

Before Libya's uprising, large religious gatherings would have been unthinkable - but today in the opposition-held city, some Muslim clerics say times have changed.

Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reports from Benghazi, where reforms are already being put into action.

more...
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/05/2011519115422503160.html

[tabatha]

78. Arabs and the long revolution

@LibyaAlHurraTV: Two months ago today,#Mohamed #Nabbous left home to take some photos & never came home. He's dearly missed & continues to inspire us. #libya
ArmchairArab‎ RT @ShababLibya: 2 months ago today, 2 brave Libyan heroes lost their lives fighting for our freedom RIP #Fakhri Salabi #Mohamed Nabbous #libya #feb17

Tunisia is having parlimentary elections this July.
Egypt is having parlimentary elections this summer.
Libya is will have its first election after 42 years.

CONFIRMED: A number of security forces at Bab Al-Aziziya have defected.

Youtube video from Live2Tripoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRXbesm6zis

As fighting rages further west in Libya, rebel-held Benghazi is seeing scenes unimaginable under Colonel Gaddafi's rule.
Roller skaters perform tricks while a French flag - in tribute to the Nato member's role in aiding Benghazi's revolutionaries - flutters in the background.
A Libyan man buys a book from a shop in Benghazi. The revolution has been a bonanza for bookstores as curious readers stock up on titles banned during Col Gaddafi's decades-long rule.
While the future for the Middle Eastern country remains uncertain, residents of Benghazi have been settling into a way of life far removed from that they have experienced previously during the dictator's 42-year rule.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Benghazi-Rebel-Held-Town-Enjoying-Life-After-Colonel-Muammar-Gaddafi-While-Fighting-Rages-In-West/Media-Gallery/201105315994530?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Strap_Teaser_Region_0&lid=GALLERY_15994530_Benghazi%3A_Rebel-Held_Town_Enjoying_Life_After_Colonel_Muammar_Gaddafi_While_Fighting_Rages_In_West

Official number of those kidnapped in Misurata more than 850 people, including women and children
oordinator of the Committee stressed the communications and missing in Misurata Tariq Abdul-Hadi Mahjoub that the number of missing persons in the city more than 850 people including 20 children and 25 elderly, pointing out that there are entire families of the kidnapped.

The restricted, in a statement to the hippopotamus, that number continues to increase, and that the last statistic was the tenth day of the month of May, during a review of parents in the place of the Commission limited the city
http://www.brnieq.com/?p=38161
(translated)

Arabs and the long revolution
THE POPULAR UPRISING that began in Tunisia last December came as a surprise in one sense, but in another sense it was no surprise at all. Rather like an earthquake, we could be pretty sure it was going to happen, though nobody could say exactly when.

It was obvious, or ought to have been, that at some point something would have to give – and the same can be said of all the Arab countries. If the regimes don't transform themselves radically over the next few years, eventually they are going to fall.

The focus at the moment is almost entirely on the regimes, but we shouldn't just be looking at the politics. Arab countries not only have repressive, authoritarian political systems; they have repressive, authoritarian societies which will have to change too.

Ten or 20 years from now, the Middle East is going to be a very different place. This may sound like a bold prediction, but one way to see what's coming is to look at the age profile of Arab populations. In Yemen, 43% are under the age of 15. In Syria, the figure is 35%, in Egypt 33%, in Oman 31% and in Saudi Arabia 29%. For comparison, the figure in the EU is just 15% - less than half what it is in many of the Arab countries.
http://www.al-bab.com/arab/articles/text/arabs_and_the_long_revolution.htm
(neat article)

[Yosarian71]

80. Misrata/Zliten update

Mhalwes:

Tawergha: The city has been liberated according to 3 sources, except for one or two buildings where G forces are barricaded. #libya #feb17

This is a big deal, because after Tawergha, it is essentially open desert road to Sirte. If Brega was getting any supplies, that is likely cut off now.

I do want to say that the only tactical decision I predicted that Heinz did not was Gadhafi's stand in Zliten. Heinz had been trashing Gadhafi's move, but I think dropping back to the Tripoli city limits was untenable and he would probably not be able to manage that kind of strategic retreat without his army disintegrating. Zliten is a somewhat densely populated area that limits NATO's ability to attack and is easily defensible terrain for Gadhafi's soldiers against the rebels. Dropping back about 20 KM from Misurata's city limits keeps the army at the front, where back in Tripoli, it would be easier to desert, and increase the chance that the army units turned on Saif and Daddy. The downside of Zliten is that the army is partially surrounded now, and retreat will be even more difficult than it was a week ago, if not impossible. Since Gadhafi is just buying time now, he doesn't really care what happens to that army.

[al bupp]

81. What would Gaddafi be buying time for?

Seems to me that time is against Gaddafi in this conflict. The only thing he might buy by stalling for time would be some sort of negotiated settlement borne of NATO and FF impatience, neither of which appears to be terribly likely to me at this point.

Perhaps it's just the nature of the dictator to play for time, since it's always been his ally in the past, he thinks it still is now. One has to wonder if Father and son are truly as delusional as their propaganda organs seem to be? His wife and daughter appear to have taken refuge outside the country, which suggests at least a little deference to reality (at least on their part).

I agree w/ your assessment of the situation in Zliten. It may prove difficult for the FF to dislodge loyalist troops from dug-in positions there, in which case, encirclement may prove the best option.

[Yosarian71]

83. Time is better than surrender for Gadhafi

Although that is not the case for the Libyan people. Every day the Gadhafi clan controls that army is another day they can cause trouble and extend their rule. Maybe NATO gets tired of the bloodshed and destruction and tries to negotiate a settlement. Maybe the NTC and NATO are willing to trade immunity to end the senseless killing.

The Gadhafi's treat the military as their own personal security force, and think nothing of leaving it in Zliten to get annihilated, kill freedom fighters, and destroy the city, because maybe the bloodshed will improve his negotiating position.

Time also gives the Gadhafi clan time to move money outside the country. This makes the loss of life of the Libyan military even more senseless and appalling. Why keep fighting? The only ones who benefit are the Gadhafi's.

[Iterate]

82. Photos of large demonstration in Misurata Monday

Another indication that life is improving in Misurata, and that the February protests were neither inherently violent, a fluke, or a manipulation.

Misurata demonstration yesterday, Monday
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=175440789176917&set=a.175440719176924.48475.164215266966136&type=1&theater&pid=432873&id=164215266966136

[Iterate]

84. The #Libya Daily

A website with top stories of the day about Libya, the best newsy selection and aggregation of tweets, participant video, politics, the war, blogs, the arts, all concerning Libya and it's people. Translated into several languages, or at least the frame is.

Except for that last bit, it sounds more than familiar. And it's definitely a work in progress - the categories are not clearly maintained and I'm not sure what the language selection buttons do. Still though, a good effort at the start, and worth a look for articles not posted here.

http://paper.li/tigella/Libia#

And here's a story we missed...

Libya Moammar Kadafi soccer: In Libya, politics turned soccer into Kadafi's game

latimes.com - Reporting from Benghazi, Libya— It is one of Libya's oldest and most venerable institutions, predating not only Moammar Kadafi's rule but independence in 1951, and boasting what is perhaps the coun...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-soccer-20110514,0,6845735.story

A bit OT, but the site is built through paper.li, a site that lets you setup your own online newspaper. About...

A (very) short introduction
SmallRivers is a privately held startup incorporated in Switzerland (Lausanne) and located on the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology EPFL campus.

Co-founded by Edouard Lambelet and Iskander Pols, the company is focused on facilitating the discovery of relevant content and other people of interest on the web. Paper.li is our latest development, and by far the most promising. This is why the company is now entirely devoted to making it even better... http://paper.li/

[Iterate]

85. Naffousa Mountains News

Almanara Libya
On Thursday 19th May 2011, @AlmanaraMedia said:
#Libya #Naffousa Mountains News 18/05/2011:

Arabic and Amazighi Translation:
http://goo.gl/73aVt

12:15 - #Geryan : Gaddafi forces destroyed few houses and stole peoples possessions and used the looking for the freedom fighters (calling them rats). They entered student accommodation at the medical school.

12:20 - reports say a lot of Gaddafi forces spreading around the south of the city of Geryan.

12:25 - Geryan: A lot of youth being arrested and captured and Gaddafi forces are situated in student accommodation.
A Call Out: We ask for the safe release of the Dr. Muhideen Hamad that works in Zawyiah hospital in Tripoli .. he was captured because he originated from #Yefren.

13:05- #Wazzen: Gaddafi forces continue to shell the border with grad missiles.

14:00 - #Yefren: Today was the funeral of Yusuf Salem Seejok that was killed in the clashes on Tuesday. It seems to be calm today not much shelling. 3 grad missiles only dropped through the night. AT 11am NATO bombed Gaddafi forces in the south of the city.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/الشهيد-يوسف-سيجوك-قايد-ميداني-في-يفرن/217577881592499

16:20 - #Nalut: a few rockets dropped today. Gaddafi forces situated in Algaziya, Takut military camp and in the Tunisian company in Takut. Supplies come from Tiji and Badr military camps.

16:50 - #Yefren : clashes today between freedom fighters and Gaddafi forces .

18:00 - #Zintan: Gaddafi forces tried to sneak into Zintan they seemed to be under the affect of drugs and alcohol. Fighting happened and 8 killed 7 Africans and 1 Libyan Gaddafi forces. 3 injuries and the siege of 3 cars.

18:20 - Nalut: Funeral of Nalut Martyrs
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.227244227291988.77212.221212461228498

Almanara Media
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/ai1rjv

[pinboy3niner]

93. Miss stories? Us? Oh, ye of little faith...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1103734&mesg_id=1106742


:)


:hi:


Ed. to add: I happened to catch the story in my hard-copy LAT whle on a quick meal break from the volunteer project I've been working on since last Saturday. The project involves long hours, all outdoors in 25-40 mph winds with no web, sometimes into the middle of the night, so I didn't have a chance to post it until the next day. But if I hadn't posted it, one of the team here would have--as usual.

Sorry I can't post more often due to this commitment, but I check the thread when I get home (before collapsing into bed--often after first dozing off on my keyboard), and check it again in the morning. I'll be back more after my project ends Sunday, but another one begins less than a week later.

[Iterate]

106. Busted again.

Did you ever click "post" and a second later think "Oops, I hope no one notices?" Well, it wasn't quite that quick, but it sunk in a little while later why I already knew the info in the article and then realized where it had come from. Truth is, I liked the idea of a paper.li better than the site itself.

I also remember in detail your posting last year about the project -looking forward to more of the same later on when things calm down, so save your posting finger. Right know it's the calm before the storm, aka stalemate.

I wish the world could make a gift to the Libyan people of their own wall when the day comes, something that starts in Benghazi and ends in Tripoli.

[Iterate]

86. Libyan Revolution Day 92 updates below, current time in Libya is 12:00 AM on Friday, 20

ChangeInLibya Tripoli: Clashes between freedom fighters and Gaddafi security brigades in the district of Arada, Tripoli.
vor 1 Minute

[tabatha]

87. Skype update from Tripoli; Amazing Misrata; tweets

catlvr426‎ RT @Tripolitanian: Large #Gaddafi military build-up on airport road in #Tripoli #Libya
RaeWild‎ RT @4Adam: via wefaqlibya :Libyan State TV building in NAsser St was bombed and a large fire in the building seen by residents #Libya #Tripoli #feb17
AndrewSmith09: RT @ChangeInLibya: #Tripoli: Some homes belonging to officers & soldiers responsible for kidnappings in city set on fire yesterday #Libya 1 minute ago"
sunnkaa: RT @ChangeInLibya: Tripoli: Nato air strikes on Khamees battalion in Tajoura, Beefi and naval base in Bou Sitta. #Libya via @elleebi & Almanara #feb17

StephanGutjahr‎ RT @ChangeInLibya: France pledges to increase the number of combat planes and to increase military pressure on Gaddafi's security forces. #libya #feb17
Breaking: Report of NATO are bombing military target in Sirte #libya #feb17 via @Thanku4theAnger
mijami2‎ RT @ChangeInLibya: Zintan update: Gaddafi forces lost many vehicles and GRAD launchers today and freedom fighters are now surrounding them in Ryayna too #libya

Not sure if it's been posted on here, but NATO has intercepted the MV Jupiter, on its way to Tripoli with fuel for Gaddafi's forces, boarded it and diverted it to Malta
zizzyphus‎ RT @BreakingNews: Maltese patrol boat rescues 347 migrants -- many thought to be oil workers who were stranded in Libya
librev2011‎ Khoms and Azzawiya Feb17 revolutionaries warning any ship heading to their ports that they will be destroyed!! #Libya #Feb17 #marine

libyans_revolt‎ Libyan ambassador for Cape Verde defected of #Gaddafi regime & appeals to all Libyan ambassadors in Africa, to join the revolution. #Libya
mijami2‎ RT @ChangeInLibya: BREAKING: Sweden has deported two diplomats who worked with the Libyan embassy in Stockholm. #libya #feb17

Libya's footballer-turned-fighter
War changes people. But I am not sure I have ever seen a community transformed quite so comprehensively as here in Libya's besieged city of Misrata.
Everyone seems to be learning a new job - fast.
Over the past few days I have met a welder-turned-sniper, a pensioner-turned-traffic warden, a printer-turned-cook, a radiologist-turned-logistics expert, and a spare parts salesman-turned-battalion commander.

But perhaps the neatest transformation - and the one that lends itself most handily to metaphor - is that of the star football centre back-turned-military defender. His name is Ibrahim Bashir Shanibah, 38, a former member of Libya's national team who represented his country abroad at the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Italy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13462311

Martin Chulov in Tripoli on defections and Nato's campaign
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7mY1uQ-IkQ&feature=player_embedded
Very interesting status report from someone in Tripoli.

[al bupp]

88. Map: Schematic Battlefield Plan for Misrata, May 19th

http://www.libyafeb17.com/2011/05/map-schematic-battlefield-plan-for-misrata-may-19th/">LibyaFeb17 Source

Here is the latest schematic battlefield plan for Misrata as of May 19th, 00:00 hrs thanks to FunGuerillaz. Please click on the images for a larger view.

[Yosarian71]

89. Great map

I thought Zliten would have fallen by now. The guerrilla activity behind them must be causing chaos for Gadhafi's troops, and NATO is pounding the positions.

[CJvR]

97. Surprising.

I never thought the siege of Misrata would be broken from within, which seems to be the case here. I always thought the Benghazi faction would have to lift it by advancing along the coast. From the map it seems as if the rebels are about to push the loyalists out of artillery range of the port, that would open up some serious supply routes for the Misrata rebels.

I wonder if the recent advances in Misrata is connected to the apparent flareup of the war in the western inland mountain range and the cities there. Gaddafi is doing his best to stomp out the fire but he only seem to have two feet and he has at least four major fires to stomp on.

[Yosarian71]

102. I agree

I also thought that the seige of Misurata would be broken by Benghazi rebels coming up the coast. Bringing supplies and men by boat from Benghazi to Misurata avoids a lot of fighting and traveling up the coast. I don't think Gadhafi's remaining artillery can reach the port anymore. Misurata is pulling in significant supplies.

I suspect that Gadhafi's troops around Misurata are half the size of the rebel army, but Gadhafi has artillery and better arms, so the rebels are going slow and letting NATO do a lot of the heavy work.

The mountain rebels have pinned down and killed a lot of Gadhafi troops.

[tabatha]

90. Hammerl shot by Gadaffi's forces

South African photographer Anton Hammerl was shot in the Libyan desert and is believed to have died from his injuries, the Hammerl family said on Friday.

A statement released by the Hammerl family on Facebook said that they had been informed on Thursday night that Hammerl had been shot on April 5.

....

"Words are simply not enough to describe the unbelievable trauma the Hammerl family is going through," the statement read.

"From the moment Anton disappeared in Libya we have lived in hope as the Libyan officials assured us that they had Anton. It is intolerably cruel that Gadaffi loyalists have known Anton's fate all along and chose to cover it up."

http://mg.co.za/article/2011-05-20-hammerl-shot-by-gadaffis-forces

Also

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/world/africa/20journalist.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[al bupp]

91. Intolerably cruel they certainly were in misleading his family...

but also, sadly, par for the course.

[al bupp]

92. RFI: Senegal has officially recognized the NTC

From Radio France Internationale:

Abdoulaye Wade reconnaît le CNT Libyen

Une délégation du Conseil national de transition, le CNT libyen, a été reçue ce jeudi 19 mai 2011 par le président sénégalais Abdoulaye Wade. Ceux qu’on appelle habituellement les « insurgés » avaient envoyé deux représentants à Dakar : Ali Zeidan et Mansour Sayf-al-Nasr. A l’issue de l’audience, un communiqué final a été lu par le directeur de cabinet du président sénégalais, Habib Sy. Le Sénégal reconnait le CNT comme « opposition historique et légitime » en Libye.

My translation:

Abdoulaye Wade recognizes the Libyan NTC

A delagation from the Libyan National Transitional Council was recieved this Thursday, May 19th 2011 by the Senegalese president, Abdoulaye Wade. Better known as "insurgents", two diplomatic representatives, Ali Zeidan and Mansour Saif-al-Nasr, went to Dakar. Habib Sy, the head of the president's cabinet, publically read a final statement in which Senegal recognized the NTC as "historic and legitmate opposition" in Libya

The article goes on to note that Wade and Gaddafi had often worked together on the common goal of a United States of Africa. Nevertheless, Senegal had quickly condemned the violence against the Libyan population and called for a ceasefire.

http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20110520-abdoulaye-wade-reconnait-le-cnt-libyen">Lire encore en Francais

[Iterate]

94. Anonymous and the Arab uprisings

Source:Al Jazeera
Anonymous and the Arab uprisings
The cyberactivists discuss their work and the broader global push for freedom of speech and freedom from oppression.
Yasmine Ryan Last Modified: 19 May 2011 18:16

Anonymous's rapid rise from the depths of geekdom to becoming a catalyst and nerve centre for real-life revolutionaries is one that has taken even some of its own members by surprise.

The loosely-knit hive brings anonymous techies, hackers and, increasingly, activists together under a single appellation, united in their non-violent but often illegal collective action.

With high-profile campaigns, centred on "distributed denial of service" (DDoS) attacks that knock target websites offline, it has been transformed from a fringe group of law-breaking pranksters that emerged in 2006 into an international movement that draws new recruits by their thousands.

In an interview with a group of Anons conducted on their home turf, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), they tell Al Jazeera that they are fighting, above all, for the free flow of information.

more...
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/05/201151917634659824.html

Rare coverage without the "OMG Yikes!!!1! the sun is on fire" fear-mongering.

[Yosarian71]

95. Heinz updates

May 20 updates:

tomorow morning you will see another big step is taken on the way to freedom.
the sea -way from bengasi to misrata ,khums is now free for ff.
ff can outflank and cut of daffis troops now by sea .
coastal artillerie in sirte is smoke since days ,amu stores are gone.
troops from daffi west of misrata highly dezimate,
no petrol ariving tripoli
remember what i post about transport of troops from bengasi to tripoli ,
secure way now without losses and waste of petrol
next step khums

sally
there is NOT ONE bunker in libya that nato not know.
the only coastal defence left in sirte are now 50mm aa guns ,but want daffi-clan realy fight with a aa and on other side is an nato war-ship with fire-finder radar?its a harakiri mission for this guys on the 50mm

nato change gear up last night and you will see another gear up today.
what we see last week is
daffi-clan lost the grip
sirte is cut of , there is no way left
tripoli is cut of and daffi-clan is not able to controll the city.
there is big fear in tripoli under daffi supporters.
state tv try to tell the people ,endsieg , but i think nobody belive it


http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/05/18/libyas-forgotten-frontline

[CJvR]

99. Not...

... if they place those guns next to hospitals and schools and other such sensitive locations.

the only coastal defence left in sirte are now 50mm aa guns ,but want daffi-clan realy fight with a aa and on other side is an nato war-ship with fire-finder radar?its a harakiri mission for this guys on the 50mm

[agentS]

96. Can I contribute too?

Got a hot potato here
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/152916-most-arabs-want-gaddafi-removed-poll.html

Most Arabs want Gaddafi removed: Poll Friday, 20 May 2011 04:42

DOHA: A huge majority of Arabs want to see the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi forcibly removed from power, according to an opinion poll commissioned by The Doha Debates.

Seventy-five percent of the respondents supported Colonel Gaddafi’s forcible removal from power, while a similar number was in favour of immediate, external intervention in Libya, but insisted that Arab governments should mount the operation, without assistance from Nato.

Last month, by contrast, more than half the mainly-Arab audience at The Doha Debates supported military action, led by the Western alliance.

The latest opinion survey was conducted between April 26 and May 2 among 1,000 respondents in 16 Arab states.

Doesn't look like Gaddafi has many fans or friends left in the Arab world.

As far as the Arab governments go, I think they are reluctant to intervene directly. HOWEVER, after Libya dropped a few bombs on Tunisia this week, they might be in the process of changing their minds.

Keep on truckin' y'all! I love this thread.

[Iterate]

104. Of course, always welcoming more...and thank you,

because something I couldn't put my finger on has been bugging me and I didn't put it together until after I thought about your post.

It all started yesterday when I saw this headline:

Foreign Policy: Can Obama Save The Arab Spring?
by Nathan Brown
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/19/136456131/foreign-policy-can-obama-save-the-arab-spring

Just the headline alone pissed me off so much I skipped the article. Who could muster the gall to even write such a thing?

When I saw your post and thought about it, it all clicked.

So much of the coverage and chatter focuses on either the celebrities at the top or American fears and interests (as if the other 6.5 billion had no part), that I had found myself asking more and more often, Where are the people in your coverage? in your theories? in your headlines? What is the experience of the Libyan people? What do the Arab people want?

Anyway, ya y'all come on back with more.

[Iterate]

100. Anton Hammerl Photoreportage

Anton Hammerl Photoreportage
http://www.shootinglondon.herobo.com/

His award winning series "Lord’s Resistance Army" is on his site.

For more than 20 years, the Lord’s Resistance Army and its leader Joseph Kony have wreaked havoc on civilian communities across central Africa. What began in 1989 as a rebellion based in northern Uganda has morphed into a regional insurgency that now terrorizes civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
The LRA has abducted large numbers of civilians for training as guerrillas; most victims were children and young adults. The LRA abducted young girls as sex and labor slaves. Other children, mainly girls, were reported to have been sold, traded, or given as gifts by the LRA to arms dealers in Sudan. While some later escaped or were rescued, the whereabouts of many children remain unknown.

...

http://www.shootinglondon.herobo.com/index.php?/reportage1/photoreportagea/

[Iterate]

101. Refugees N-S-E-W

3 bodies found and 500 boat people saved off Italy
(AFP) – 21 hours ago

ROME — Some 500 migrants from north Africa were saved off the Italian coast on Thursday, while three bodies were found in waters off the island of Sicily, according to coast guard reports.

The bodies were found after 14 migrants, who said they were from Benghasi in strife-torn Libya, were saved from the waters off the west coast of Sicily as they struggled to swim to shore. They then said that three of their company were missing.

The local coast guard said it believed the migrants had abandoned their boat -- a small wooden vessel -- a short way out to sea and attempted to swim to shore, losing three people to the waves on the way.

Earlier in the day around 500 people were rescued from another boat by the Lampedusa coast guard which sent six speedboats to meet the struggling vessel before guiding it into shore.

more...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hf4E0NUS238WLz3ie1jzad--QKxg?docId=CNG.9bf00543fbd0bf71d18162dcdd9a026a.9d1

Refugees from Libya 'in critical situation' in Chad
(AFP) – 2 hours ago

GENEVA — Almost 4,000 Chadians who have returned home from strife-torn Libya via Niger are in a critical situation in the border town of Zouarke, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) warned on Friday.

"According to the Chadian government, more than 3,800 migrants including 310 women and children are in a very difficult situation in Zouarke with limited food, no water and transport to make their journey south," the IOM said in a statement.

Most of the migrants are Chadians, of whom 25,000 have already fled the Libyan conflict and made their way to the northern towns of Faya and Kalait, but the latest batch lacks the means.

"With no-one to help them and without transport to take them to Faya, 600 kilometres (370 miles) southeast of Zouarke, many are famished and suffering from exposure to extreme heat and dust. Water is also a key issue with the nearest well seven kilometres away from the town. Four people are reported to have died from drinking its contaminated water."

more...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jKnw0BlCU814zbVQnZAjD0DoQ4Ag?docId=CNG.34fd6b84d49890cb836bc148afa6ad47.621

Four-wheeled refugees from Libya fighting change Gaza streetscape with their sedans
By Ibrahim Barzak, The Associated Press – 1 day ago

Luxury cars with Libyan plates are becoming a common sight in the Gaza Strip, a surprising side-effect of the unrest in the north African country.

Most of the cars in Hamas-ruled Gaza — an impoverished territory subject to border restrictions by Israel and Egypt — are old models, battered and much-repaired. The gleaming new arrivals, sold in Egypt by Libyan refugees and then smuggled through underground tunnels into Gaza, are easy to spot.

Sufian Ahmad, a 36-year-old storeowner, said he had decided to buy a new Kia SUV for $50,000.

"I know $50,000 is a lot for a car in Gaza, but this will spare me at least two years of visiting garages and looking for spare parts," he said. "It's a good deal and with the cheap fuel coming from Egypt, I think I can manage."

more No Cars Go...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jKsN2MLfThCAHNHGA1CiTmfu4f1Q?docId=6894287

WHO praises Tunisia's care for refugees fleeing Libya
19 May 2011 Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

TUNIS (TAP) - Health situation at the Tunisian-Libyan border and the exceptional solidarity drive shown by the Tunisian population for refugees from Libya were emphasised by Mrs. Habiba Ezzahi Ben Romdhane, Public Health Minister, in her address to the 64th World Health Assembly held in Geneva.

The Minister, who is leading the Tunisian delegation to this meeting, stressed efforts made by Tunisia to face up to this humanitarian crisis.

Mrs. Ben Romdhane underlined Tunisia's attachment to the universal principles defended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its reasserted commitment to ensure sustainability to this important organisation.

She also outlined the Tunisian Government's efforts, at this democratic transition stage experienced by Tunisia, to face up to challenges and meet challenges in the health field to provide quality health services to citizens.

more...
http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20110520091424

[tabatha]

103. I hope this is true.

Gerhard Heinz 2 hours ago

hello free libya
there are a lot of signs incoming now that game is over for daffi-clan.
i just telephon with some ex daffi officers ,they tell me that the anti daffi fraktion in military get the uphand now.
i come back with news soon

The people in the Western Mountains are desperate - the end cannot come soon enough.

[Yosarian71]

108. Rumor of the night

Saif has been shot and has crossed the border into Tunisia. Likely a fantasy.

Other updates:

AJE Blog ErnestTorres55: Misurata FF a few km from the north gate of Sirte

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/africa/2011/05/18/libyas-forgotten-frontline

[tabatha]

105. Amnesty International Report on Misrata; tweets from Guma El-Gamaty, Alfie Hanssen

Guma El-Gamaty
Shukri Ghanim now with family in europe. He has critics but never had blood on his hand! Should he represent libya TNC in next OPEC meeting?

@JabaliLibya nato has hit G forces in zwara close to ras jder but the crossing point is under G control for now used by his aids to escape!
Just spoke to libyan FF in charge of Dhiba border crossing. He screens people going in for G infiltrs. 4 out of 6 border crossings under FFs

Yefin and Qilaa western mountain besieged by Gadhafi thugs no water food medic injured not treated need 2 open corridor or air drop hum. aid
@2011feb17 nilesat r not owned by arab league they need extra pressure from egyptian government ie military council
@Independist I said early signs! of regime meltdown. will remind u post the finale in tripoli when G is called the deposed G! and his regime
Gadhafi son Saadi called libyan friend in Switzerland asking:get me out of libya use good lawyers! The friend confirmed this to me personaly

http://twitter.com/#!/Guma_el_gamaty

Alfie Hanssen
Meeting w Libyan meteorologist who fled Gaddafi forces to #Tunisia, "NATO can end this faster than others
yfrog.com/h7u7asnj

"we use also hand written letters via undercover courier, hand to hand for VI information, there is someone doing this 24/7 #Libya
"we use cb radios from ambulances to communicate w one another, dismantled and reassembled them #Libya
"we were wary of military coup because gaddafi is a military dictator himself. Our neighbors showed us an alternative #Libya #Tunisia
"we were silent for 42 years dreaming about this but didn't know what to do, then we saw our neighbors and exploded #Tunisia #Libya

"Gaddafi told citizens in one place that terrorists were controlling other Libyan cities and he was fighting to liberate them #Tunisia
"mercenaries from Algeria, mali, southern morocco, are fighting w gaddafi forces. We are not upset w their counties, they act individually
"gaddafis soldiers are young people who he paid and whose families do not want them to fight
"when we captured Gaddafi troops we gave them to red cross or to their families who came to collect them so they would not fight w Gaddafi
"33 people in my area were wounded yest but afraid to go to hospital that has no resources

"we came to #Tunisia because we consider it our second country, and it's not the first time we've fled here and been welcomed
"my outlook is optimistic. Gaddafi prevented us from being close w our neighbors. We were sequestered longing to see the world in a dif way
"the elected military purpose is to recruit and train others and defeat Gaddafi forces and hold the city
"we organize improv police out of those who remained to take care of security matters.

"I wanted to stay and fight but was afraid Gaddafi troops would take my wife and children. We elected young educated to lead city as we fled
NATO action is humanitarian before it is military, we libyans welcome it.

Meeting w Libyan family who fled the war to Tunisia, 40 families taken in indefinitely by Tunisian community here
http://twitter.com/#!/alfiehanssen

Amnesty International Report on Misrata

“When the kata`ib (Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi’s armed forces) came to our area around mid-March they were shooting in all directions and it became very unsafe. I saw one of their tanks 200 metres from our building, in between the houses. Many residents fled the area an some were killed as they were fleeing. We had 92 children in the orphanage, most of them small and the youngest a little baby of three months. Now we have 101 children there. We could not leave and most of our colleagues could not come to work anymore.

We took all the children to the basement and stayed there for a week. There was no electricity, running water or telephone network anymore; we had water in the underground storage reservoir but no electricity to pump it into the system so we used buckets and used the water very sparingly. The kitchen staff could not come to work anymore so we broke the lock of the store room and used the rice, pasta and basic food and bottled water we had in storage. We were only a handful of staff and we did our best to entertain the children and to keep them safe. Sometimes I went to upstairs to try and see what was happening outside. It was very scary; the courtyard was littered with bullets and shrapnel.

Amnesty International calls on the international community to:
n Provide full support and co-operation to the ongoing investigations by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC and by the Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council, including by providing sufficient resources for them to accomplish their tasks effectively and promptly; obtain access to all relevant documents, other evidence and persons; and be in a position to protect from reprisals all persons who provide information.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE19/019/2011/en/4efa1e19-06c1-4609-9477-fe0f2f4e2b2a/mde190192011en.pdf

[Iterate]

107. Libya: BBC correspondent meets pro-Gaddafi prisoners

Libya: BBC correspondent meets pro-Gaddafi prisoners
20 May 2011 Last updated at 18:50 GMT

NATO says its aircraft have attacked eight warships belonging to the Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi.

Misrata itself has seen some of the heaviest fighting in recent weeks.

Andrew Harding has been granted rare access to pro-Gaddafi soldiers who have been seized by rebels.

The BBC has not been able to verify their claims as they were talking while being held in captivity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13478996

Memories of the missing haunt Libyan rebel capital
May 20, 2011 11:55 AM (Last updated: May 20, 2011 11:55 AM)
Agence France Press

BENGHAZI, Libya: The faces stare out of photographs that feature a name, maybe a phone number, or sometimes just a date – they are all that people have to go by in their search for loved ones missing in Libya’s revolution.

Portraits of men of all ages fill the walls of Benghazi’s Jalaa hospital, where there are more than 100 photographs on display for patients and passersby to contemplate.

Some are new and some weathered after spending weeks on the wall. Others, albeit very few, have been torn down, a sign that some of the missing have been found, be that dead or alive.

More than three months into the insurrection against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, the hospital walls tell the stories of all those missing since the city took up arms against the army on Feb. 17, and of the rebels who went to the front and did not return.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2011/May-20/Memories-of-the-missing-haunt-Libyan-rebel-capital.ashx#ixzz1Mvanmodu
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

[Yosarian71]

109. Libya Map

http://twitpic.com/5015mb/full

I can not figure out why Gadhafi continues to reinforce his troops in the Western mountains as the rest of his forces disintegrate.

[al bupp]

110. It may be due to breakdowns in command & control

Units may be following their standing/pre-existing orders w/o the ability of commanders to countermand them. Or it could be further evidence of Gaddafi's derangement, it's hard to say.

[CJvR]

114. It might be...

...that he needs to secure access to his areas of support, Sirte and the inland settlements seems to be the only somewhat loyal parts remaining for him. With the lifting of the Misrata siege Tripoli is effectively isolated from those regions unless the roads through the Western mountains can be secured.

[tabatha]

111. Free Tripoli Daily, Journalists under attack in Libya, Gaddafi our best enemy

Free Tripoli Daily
In the same format as "The Libyan Daily" linked in Iterate's post.
http://paper.li/20arb11/1304854806#

Journalists under attack in Libya: The tally
CPJ has documented more than 80 attacks on the press since political unrest erupted in Libya last month. They include five fatalities, at least three serious injuries, at least 50 detentions, 11 assaults, two attacks on news facilities, the jamming of Al-Jazeera and Al-Hurra transmissions, at least four instances of obstruction, the expulsion of two international journalists, and the interruption of Internet service. At least six local journalists are missing amid speculation they are in the custody of security forces. One international journalist and two media support workers are also unaccounted for. Here's a running list of all attacks on journalists and the media in Libya since February 16:
http://www.cpj.org/blog/2011/05/journalists-under-attack-in-libya.php

Two other posts of interest from other DU forums:

Obama allied America with those...thirsting for freedom, &he did so in a subtle but remarkable way
Still Obama allied America with those Arabs and Iranians thirsting for freedom, and he did so in a subtle but remarkable way. He invoked, as he so often does, the civil-rights movement. Not World War II, where American power served the cause of freedom. Not the Cold War, where American power did as well, at least in Europe. But the civil-rights movement: where an oppressed people struggling for freedom confronted American power, and won. It’s a more subversive analogy than we generally acknowledge, and one that should make everyone battling oppression in the Middle East—in Sana, Damascus, Cairo, Tehran, and Ramallah, too—smile.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x676993

Juan Cole: Obama and the Dilemmas of US Middle East Policy
Still and all, it was a fine speech, a courageous speech because it challenged US allies as much as it did US foes, and it put the US on the side of Bourguiba Avenue and Tahrir Square and Benghazi and Deraa and Taizz. That is the side of history on which the US needs to stand. As a set of ideals, it was a big stride in the right direction. As practical policy, it is hard to see how it would be implemented effectively (upbraiding Israel and Bahrain slightly won’t change those crises). But, well, at least Washington is finally not standing in the way of the people in the region.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x603540

Gaddafi our best enemy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO0A0vMRRvU
1 hour 35 minutes

[Yosarian71]

112. Heinz updates - 5/21

nato is very quiet tonight
reason,not to bomb units in tripoli who are on the way to change
comand aktivity from tripoli near zero
we have to wait
this kind of things take 2 or 3 days


I don't think Heinz knows why this is taking so long either. I thought when the rebels defeated Gadhafi's troops in Misurata after pinning down the eastern army, this would unravel quickly. Now NATO is bombing boats, which seem like C or D level targets at best, and now is even taking a night off. While the Western Mountains could use some air support, in Tripoli, on the Tripoli/Misurata road and in Brega there are likely just not that many good targets left. Unfortunately, while it will be bloody, the next stage of the war is going to require close combat and some casualties by the rebels to break the current front lines. The only meaningful progress in the last week was southeast of Misurata, in a situation where the rebels actually launched an attack and broke through the Gadhafi lines. The rebels are in Zliten now, and it is time to attack Brega. Those regime troops must be hanging by a thread anyway.

While I appreciate the hesitancy to risk the rebel army in battle when the expectation is Gadhafi will collapse anyway, every day that Gadhafi is in charge in any part of the country is another day that those Libyans live in terror.

[CJvR]

115. Well if...

...the rebels have pushed the loyalist forces out of artillery range of the Misrata harbor then slamming the regime's naval assets makes alot of sense since then the sea is wide open to ship supplies to the western revolt.

IMPO the lifting of the siege of Misrata is probably the greatest outright military victory for the revolt since the initial rush. The only reason I can see for Gaddafi to lift it is either that he can't maintain it or that he is about to become isolated in Tripoli and needs to secure his rear lines. Lets not forget that if the army turns around it could be back in the suburbs of Misrata in a hurry as the races up and down the coastal road to Sirte demonstrated.

[Yosarian71]

117. Fair points

I don't see Gadhafi turning his army around in Zliten. First of all, I suspect that the Misurata army is 2x Gadhafi's army or more, and the material advantage is much less than it was earlier in the war. There are volunteers streaming into Misurata every day plus reinforcements from Benghazi coming in by boat. Unlike the central coastal fighting in March and April, Misurata to Tripoli is through densely populated, urban areas, which take away Gadhafi's motorized advantage, and the forces against him are much more experienced and better led than the rabble racing up and down the coastal road earlier in the war. Every block he loses now is one he will likely never get back, and he knows it.

[Yosarian71]

113. Potential slaughter in Western Mountains

Just a couple here:

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=154324474634899

https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=154324474634899

More update links here:

http://twitter.com/#!/ShababLibya


It appears Gadhafi wants to inflict the maximum amount of damage and destruction on the Amizagh people in his final days. He continues to reinforce this front even as he loses control of Tripoli and his force in Zliten is decimated. His armies are massing for an attack, whereas a week ago it looked like Gadhafi's WMA army had been eliminated. The Western Mountains have little strategic value for Gadhafi at this point. This is pure, cruel vindictiveness.

[joshcryer]

116. Week 14 here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1146613