Dramatic video footage of a bomb dropped near rebel positions in Brega yesterday has been posted by al-Jazeera's Evan Hill who was around 60m away.
Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Libya: rebels in desperate battle to hold ground
Heavily outgunned rebels fought a desperate battle to retain control of vital energy supplies on Wednesday after Col Muammar Gaddafi launched a major ground and air assault on opposition-held eastern Libya.
Qadafi offers Libyan rebels an amnesty
Warning to world of 'another Vietnam' if Libya is invaded masks concessions to opponents shaped by son Saif al-Islam Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has offered an amnesty for rebels who hand back weapons, promising they would be "forgiven and not pursued" even as he warned that his country would be turned into "another Vietnam" if foreign countries intervened. In a three-hour speech to supporters and international journalists in Tripoli, Gaddafi offered a handful of concessions aimed at those supporting the opposition forces who control more than half the country. Faced with the threat of armed intervention by the west, he said: "We will enter a bloody war and thousands and thousands of Libyans will die if the United States enters or Nato enters." Although the defiance had been anticipated, what was surprising was a series of concessions designed to divert support for the escalating uprising and head off the growing threat of military intervention. Conceding his almost complete isolation, Gaddafi admitted that the world appeared to be against Libya, including India, China and parts of Latin America as well as the US and Europe. The speech, delivered on Wednesdayas Libyan forces attacked opposition positions in the east of the country, bore all the hallmarks of being shaped by his son Saif al-Islam, who has argued in the past for some of the concessions on offer. Despite his often fiery rhetoric, Gaddafi delivered the speech calmly, in contrast to fist-waving previous addresses in which he threatened to hunt down opponents like rats. He promised he would not stand in the way of privately-owned media or a constitution for the country – long espoused by Saif – if that is what people wanted. He also offered an inquiry into violence on both sides. Despite the offer, Gaddafi's problem will remain one of credibility, not least because of his continued assertion that there had been "no peaceful demonstrations at all", a view challenged even by some of his own officials. His critics are sceptical that anything he promises can be trusted. There is the danger for him too that his shift in tone will be seen as a sign of weakness by the opposition, as was the case with both Tunisia's Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali and Egypt's Hosni Mubarak, who both offered a series of concessions before being forced to stand down. Gaddafi also invited a commission of inquiry from the UN security council to investigate events, accusing it of making decisions based on "100% inaccurate media reporting". Talking of his own position, he said: "Muammar Gaddafi is not a president to resign, he does not even have a parliament to dissolve." His third public appearance since the uprising took place in a large ballroom at a ceremony to mark 34 years of "people power". He said the regime was ready to discuss the challenges confronting Libyans, but that those fighting had not "approached him but chosen to fight". Despite the bellicose rhetoric – which included a threat to hand out millions of weapons to his supporters if they are faced with a foreign invasion – he appeared to distance himself from remarks he had made earlier in Green Square, claiming that he was speaking in the language appropriate for the "angry youth" and was now speaking the language appropriate for the international community. In a highly pointed remark he added that if western companies choose to leave, they would be replaced with "Indian and Chinese companies". Also on offer from Gaddafi was the promise of increased financial incentives including low interest grants to build homes, presently capped at 30,000 dinars (£15,000), which would increase to over 100,000 dinars. He added that if Benghazi was peaceful it would receive $20bn (£12.5bn) in infrastructure improvements when the violence subsided. On some issues, however, Gaddafi's language had not changed. He continued to blame a small number of al-Qaida fighters for inciting the rebellion and the international media for bringing the threat of international action through its inaccurate reporting. He explained that reporters in the country's east and in Tripoli and the surrounding towns had not encountered al-Qaida because they were staying in the background while the violence raged. The veteran leader, who once said democracy was for donkeys,told the gathering in Tripoli the world did not understand that he had given power to the people long ago. "We put our fingers in the eyes of those who doubt that Libya is ruled by anyone other than its people," he said, referring to his system of "direct democracy" launched at a meeting attended by visiting Cuban leader Fidel Castro in 1977. Referring to the two-week-old popular uprising against his rule, Gaddafi also called for the UN and Nato to investigate the facts about what had happened in Libya, and said he saw a conspiracy to colonise Libya and seize its oil.
Government announces $5M in humanitarian aid to Libya
CTV.ca News Staff
The federal government is sending $5 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Libya, the prime minister announced Wednesday.
The money will go toward medical supplies and emergency shelters, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the House of Commons.
Harper did not specify how the aid will be delivered. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, who is facing international condemnation for a violent crackdown on protesters demanding an end to his 42-year rule, has said anyone who accepts international aid is guilty of "high treason" for opening "Libya to colonialism."
Earlier Wednesday, Canadian warship HMCS Charlottetown set sail from Halifax Harbour for the Libyan coast, a deployment that could last up to six months.
The ship carried 240 crew, along with a Sea King helicopter and air force personnel.
CTV's Atlantic Bureau Chief Todd Battis said the ship is primarily on a humanitarian mission, but the crew was told to be ready for anything,
"It could transport humanitarian relief supplies, it could also be ordered to help evacuate Canadians from Libya...it could also take on a more aggressive role if it's decided by NATO and the Canadian government as necessary to do that," Battis said, reporting from Halifax Harbour.
While the trip to Libya should take about a week, the crew was told the journey could take closer to two weeks if weather is bad. The ship could remain in the region for up to six months, Battis said.
On Wednesday morning Defence Minister Peter MacKay said there are about 100 Canadians still trying to leave the chaotic nation.
Speaking to CTV's Canada AM, MacKay said he has received estimates that there are about 250 Canadians still in Libya.
"Just under 100 of those have indicated their desire to leave and so we'll continue to work tirelessly to get them out," MacKay said.
He added that Canadian officials "have been working around the clock to locate those individuals."
Canada has hit some hurdles in its efforts to evacuate Canadians from the violence-torn nation.
On Tuesday, a Canadian Forces C-130J Hercules aircraft was denied landing rights by Libyan authorities, which stated that there was simply no room for the plane to land.
Last week, at least two charter flights landed in Tripoli but left empty, because officials had trouble locating Canadians at the airport waiting to depart. The planes were then forced to leave after running out their appointed time.
And a C-17 military transport was grounded in Rome last week for days, after it was unable to secure landing rights.
Canada now has two C-17 planes and one C-130 stationed in Malta, making it much easier to deploy rescue operations to Libya, MacKay said.
He said officials are trying to co-ordinate departure times from Malta with the arrival of Canadians at the Tripoli airport.
Canadian consular officials are also working with Canada's allies to co-ordinate evacuation efforts, MacKay said.
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Gaddafi threatens west, says will invite India & China
Leader Muammar Gaddafi on Wednesday threatened that Libya will replace western banks, oil firms and companies by others from China, India, Russia and Brazil. Speaking on Wdnesday on state television, Gaddafi claimed that Libya's oil fields and ports are "safe" and "under control." He spoke i
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n the capital Tripoli as his forces were launching a counteroffensive on Wednesday against the rebel held eastern half of the country.
His forces battled government opponents for control of a key oil installation and airstrip on the Mediterranean coast.
Digging in his heels, a defiant Muammar Gaddafi refused to give up power and claimed that the anti regime protests were part of a conspiracy to grab the oil resources of Libya.
Gaddafi again blamed Al Qaeda for the challenge to his 41 year iron fisted rule, saying the objective was to control Libya's land and oil, and promised to fight to the last man and woman.
He denied that there have been any peaceful demonstrations since the uprising began in Libya on February 15 this year and challenged calls from home and abroad for him to step down, saying he has "no real power."
"Sleeper cells from Al Qaeda, its elements, infiltrated gradually ... They believe the world is theirs, they fight everywhere, the intelligence services know them by name," he told a ceremony of loyalists in the capital Tripoli.
"Suddenly it started in (the eastern town of) Al-Baida... The sleeping cell was told to attack the battalion ... and it took arms from police stations," said Gaddafi.
"The soldiers went home and left their battalion" while the Al Qaeda cells "took the weapons and control of the town."
"The women fled ... bullets were everywhere. It was the same situation in Benghazi," he said of the main eastern city under the control of the rebel forces.
"There are no peaceful demonstrations in Libya," he said. "If there were why are foreigners fleeing, the embassies closing in Tripoli, (oil company) employees fleeing from the desert?"
Turning to the oil industry, he said "these gangs made oil companies afraid, flee and stop production. Oil production is at its lowest." "The conspiracy has become clear," he said, claiming that the aim is to take control Libyan land and oil.
"This is impossible, impossible. We will fight to the end, to the last man, the last woman ... with God's help."
Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa and is the continent's fourth largest producer, and Gaddafi said the "oilfields are safe and under control, but the foreign firms are afraid."
Gaddafi claimed that the people of the eastern city of Benghazi, which has played a key role in the rebellion, "have asked us to help them get rid from the armed gangs."
The ceremony was aired live shortly after rebels said they had repelled an attack by Gaddafi's forces in the eastern town of Brega on Wednesday, with witnesses reporting two civilians killed.
The event was to mark the anniversary of the launch of the People's Committees, according to the broadcaster. Reading from a prepared text, Gaddafi's speech was frequently interrupted by chants of support, which he praised.
One woman in a black robe and headscarf broke shouting "you are a sword that does not break. You are capable." Another person said: "Here is your leader, your beloved ... Here is the leader Muammar Gaddafi, the leader of victory and challenge, standing among his sons, steadfast, like our mountains, great like the greatness of our people."
Gaddafi criticised media reports about the resignations of senior officials from his regime including several military leaders and ambassadors abroad.
"The resignations from abroad, the statements from inside (Libya) ... don't believe them," he said. "As far as Libya is concerned ... nothing happened ... and it is strange that the world received news from correspondents and TV stations not present in Libya." "They dont want any real news from Libya," Gaddafi said, before adding that "there are no political prisoners in Libya at all."
"The Libyan people challenge ... even Muammar Gaddafi who has no power," said Gaddafi, who rose to power after overthrowing the monarchy in a 1969 coup.
"When the People's Committees issue something, it becomes law and is implemented for all Libyans. No one can declare war or peace unless the People's Committees decide," the Libyan leader said. "Muammar has no real power to surrender."
Gaddafi urged the international community to establish a commission of inquiry into the estimated deaths of more than 1,000 people killed in the unrest by his forces. "We urge the world, the United Nations, to see where the people were killed, to send a fact-finding team to investigate."
He also lashed out a moves by several countries to freeze Libyan assets. "The assets are the assets of the Libyan nation" and they have "no right" to seize them. "I am the asset of Libya, not the American dollar."
Gaddafi remains entrenched in Tripoli in the west of the oil rich North African country.
(with inputs from AP and AFP)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Libya suspended from U.N. Human Rights Council
This is the first time that a country has been suspended from the General Assembly of the U.N. Human Rights Council.
The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously voted to suspend Libya from the U.N. Human Rights Council in the wake of continuing attacks on pro-democracy protesters there by Muammar Qadhafi’s regime.
Refugee crisis fall-out from Libya
The violence in Libya has forced upto 100 000 people to flee the country, most streaming into neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. Many are stuck on the wrong side of Libya in temporary camps. Relief at being out of Libya, is turning to anger. This Egyptian refugee was forced to flee to Tunisia..
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Inside Story - Libya's humanitarian crisis
http://upcomingongoing.blogspot.com/ http://tech-biz-buzz.blogspot.com/
Video of abandoned Libya military base in Benghazi after days of fierce battles
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'Gaddafi will fight on, 1000 dead in Libya just a beginning'
Gaddafi will fight on, 1000 dead in Libya just a beginning
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Gaddafi loses Libya: Tripoli last target of opposition
Gaddafi loses Libya: Tripoli last target of opposition
Dramatic video of fighting aftermath in Libyan airport
http://upcomingongoing.blogspot.com/ http://tech-biz-buzz.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 27, 2011
HOTSPOT LIBYA: Video Libyan Army Defeated In Shahat
Video Libyan Army Defeated In Shahat
HOTSPOT LIBYA More Possible Mercenaries Found Dead (GRAPHIC)
More Possible Mercenaries Found Dead
HOTSPOT LIBYA Armed Forces Shoot Only To Kill
HOTSPOT LIBYA Armed Forces Shoot Only To Kill
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HOTSPOT LIBYA Protesters And Armed Truck Clash
HOTSPOT LIBYA Protesters And Armed Truck Clash
LIBYA Eyewitness Talks About The Battle Of Misrata Airport
Eyewitness Talks About The Battle Of Misrata Airport
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LIBYA Aftermath Footage From Misrata Airport
Aftermath Footage From Misrata Airport
Libya: anti regime rebels make gains
http://www.google.ca/search?q=gaddafi+nurse&hl=en&pwst=1&rlz=1C1S...:1&prmd=ivnsu&source=lnms&ei=SfpqTcvDMcHEtweD45HoAw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=4&ved=0CCoQ_AUoAw#
http://upcomingongoing.blogspot.com/ http://tech-biz-buzz.blogspot.com/Road To Hope: Leaving Banghazi Libya
Leaving Banghazi Libya
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