Senegal's President, Mediator.
Libyan rebels push forward
Published 13 June 2011 05:50 303 Views
Libyan pro-democracy fighters push towards the city of Zlitan - one of only three towns separating the rebel-held Misurata from the capital, Tripoli. Meanwhile, Libyan state TV reports that leader Muammar Gaddafi has once again said he has no intention of leaving the country. Al Jazeera's Tarek Bazley reports
Rebels push Forward towards Tripoli
ليبيا: اشتباكات في الزاوية وسقوط 13 قتيلا
آخر تحديث: الأحد، 12 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 11:40 GMT
الحكومة الليبية تعلن سيطرتها على الزاوية وتقصف الزنتان بالصواريخ
آخر تحديث: الأحد، 12 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 20:50 GMT
ليبيا: اشتباكات في الزاوية وسقوط 13 قتيلا
آخر تحديث: الأحد، 12 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 11:40 GMT
ليبيا: اشتباكات في الزاوية وسقوط 13 قتيلا
آخر تحديث: الأحد، 12 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 11:40 GMT
الحكومة الليبية تعلن سيطرتها على الزاوية وتقصف الزنتان بالصواريخ
آخر تحديث: الأحد، 12 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 20:50 GMT
International community, Libyan rebels prepare for post-Gadhafi world
June 9, 2011 -- Updated 0742 GMT (1542 HKT)
NATO has stepped up its bombing campaign against key targets in Libya's capital in recent days.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The U.S. has not officially recognized the Libyan rebel government
- Obama invites the rebel government to establish a U.S. office
- Moammar Gadhafi refuses to step down, saying "we will not surrender"
- Decision expected on whether to charge Gadhafi with crimes against humanity
(CNN) -- An international coalition with the aim of building support for Libya's transitional government in a post-Moammar Gadhafi world was scheduled to meet Thursday, even as the leader vowed to fight to the death.
The meeting comes as Gadhafi's forces launched a new attack against the rebel-held port city of Misrata, the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting in the months-long civil war that has killed thousands of civilians.
The assault followed a day of intense bombardment of the capital by the NATO alliance, which intervened in the conflict in March under a U.N. mandate to protect civilians as Gadhafi tried to crush the revolt against him.
NATO can continue the airstrikes "for as long as it takes to bring this crisis to an early conclusion," NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday.
It is time to start planning for what to do after the Libyan leader's departure "because Gadhafi's reign of terror is coming to an end," Rasmussen said at a briefing at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
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But Gadhafi has refused to step down, going so far this week as to do a live audio broadcast as NATO warplanes bombed his Tripoli compound.
"We will not surrender," he said during the broadcast.
Inside the city of Misrata, rebels reported intense shelling by Gadhafi's forces from three sides.
It was the bloodiest day of fighting in a week, said Dr. Khaled Abu Falgha, a spokesman at Misrata's Hekma hospital.
More than 1,000 people are believed to have been killed since the fighting began there in early February, including 686 civilians who lived in the city, he said.
Misrata has been under siege for months by Gadhafi's forces, who have cut off all land access. The only escape route for rebels and civilians is by sea.
Rebel fighters said their defense of Misrata was holding.
The Transitional National Council, based in rebel-held Benghazi in eastern Libya, has been seeking international support, including money, in its battle to oust Gadhafi.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was expected to attend a meeting in the United Arab Emirates of the Libyan Contact Group, a coalition of various countries and international organizations that seek to build support for the rebel government.
France, Italy and Qatar are among a small number of countries that have recognized the Transitional National Council as the legitimate government of Libya.
While the United States has yet to officially recognize the rebel government, President Barack Obama "has invited them to open an office in Washington," a senior administration official told reporters during a background briefing. The reporters were traveling with Clinton to the Abu Dhabi meeting.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as a matter of practice for such a briefing.
Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said a decision was expected within days from judges at the Hague on whether to charge Gadhafi and two others with crimes against humanity.
Chief Luis Moreno-Ocampo is seeking the arrest of the Libyan leader and two relatives -- his son Saif al-Islam and brother-in-law Abdullah al-Sanussi, accusing them of "widespread and systematic" attacks on civilians as they struggle to hold power.
Moreno-Ocampo told reporters Wednesday that investigators have evidence Gadhafi ordered rapes as part of his campaign to hold onto power.
"We had doubts at the beginning," Moreno-Ocampo said. "But now we're more convinced."
CNN's Jamie Crawford and Richard Roth contributed to this report.
Rebels Edging to TRIPOLI
Plans Past Qaddafi.
Youngsters refurbishing Weapons.
Gadhafi loyalists launch new push against Misrata
June 8, 2011 -- Updated 2116 GMT (0516 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- NEW: A fresh attack on rebel-held Misrata has killed at least 13, rebels say
- NATO says it is doing all it can to avoid hurting civilians
- NATO chief Rasmussen says Gadhafi's "reign of terror" is ending soon
- Gadhafi vows not to surrender amid heavy bombing
(CNN) -- Forces loyal to embattled Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi launched a new attack on the rebel-held city of Misrata on Wednesday, with anti-government forces reporting intense shelling from three sides of the city.
Thousands of government troops attacked about 6 a.m., with 13 rebels reported dead by evening. Mohamed Mokhtar, a rebel fighter wounded in Wednesday's fighting, accused government troops of infiltrating rebel lines in cars bearing rebel flags.
Dr. Khaled Abu Falgha, a spokesman for Misrata's Hekma hospital, said it was the bloodiest day in a week in the besieged city. More than 1,000 people are believed to have been killed since the fighting began there in February, including 686 registered residents of the city, he said.
Rebel fighters returning from the front lines reported that their defenses were holding up under the onslaught, however.
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The assault followed a day of intense bombardment of Libya's capital by the NATO alliance, which intervened in the conflict in March under a U.N. mandate to protect civilians as Gadhafi tried to crush the revolt against him. Libya's government said 60 missiles struck the capital city, killing at least 31 people, including a number of civilians, and wounding dozens more.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen reiterated Wednesday that the alliance is doing all it can to avoid civilian casualties. But he said at allied headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, that NATO could continue the airstrikes "for as long as it takes to bring this crisis to an early conclusion."
Rasmussen said that NATO bombing has saved lives in Libya and that the alliance has the resources to extend its military mission for another 90 days past the end of June.
It is time to start planning for what to do after Gadhafi's departure, "because Gadhafi's reign of terror is coming to an end," he said.
Pressed on why airstrikes would be able to dislodge Gadhafi when "the history of the last 30 years" shows that air attacks alone do not win wars, Rasmussen offered no clear answer, saying only, "We have no intentions to put troops on the ground."
For his part, even as NATO airstrikes bombarded his Tripoli compound, Gadhafi vowed Tuesday that "we will not surrender."
"I am now speaking as planes and bombs fall around me," Gadhafi said in a live audio broadcast on state television. "But my soul is in God's hand. We will not think about death or life. We will think about the call of duty."
The Gadhafi compound was under "intensive continuous bombardment," according to state TV, which reported buildings and infrastructure were destroyed. But government spokesman Musa Ibrahim said the allied campaign "is failing miserably."
"No one has the right to shape Libya's future except for Libyans," he said.
Ibrahim said Tuesday morning's blasts hit the popular guard compound and the revolution compound, which are military barracks near Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound. The spokesman said attacks Tuesday and Wednesday hit state television buildings, killing two people and wounding 16.
NATO disputed the account.
"We did not target or hit the Libyan broadcast facilities. What we did target was the military intelligence headquarters in downtown Tripoli," the alliance said. "The story coming from Libyan officials that we targeted and hit the state broadcaster's building is bogus."
CNN's Richard Allen Greene, Raja Razek, Dan Rivers and Jonathan Wald contributed to this report.
ليبيا: اسبانيا تعترف بالمجلس الانتقالي ممثلا وحيدا للشعب الليبي
آخر تحديث: الأربعاء، 8 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 12:14 GMT
ليبيا: اسبانيا تعترف بالمجلس الانتقالي ممثلا وحيدا للشعب الليبي
آخر تحديث: الأربعاء، 8 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 12:14 GMT
لمعارضة الليبية: قوات القذافي تتقدم نحو مصراتة
الاربعاء 8 حزيران (يونيو) 2011
بيروت (رويترز) - قال متحدث باسم المعارضة الليبية ان الالاف من قوات الزعيم الليبي معمر القذافي تتقدم نحو مدينة مصراتة الغربية التي تسيطر عليها المعارضة يوم الاربعاء فيما تتعرض لقصف من ثلاث جهات أسفر عن مقتل عشرة على الاقل من المعارضة المسلحة.
ولم يصدر اي تعليق فوري من حكومة القذافي.
وقال حسن المصراتي المتحدث باسم المعارضة لرويترز من داخل المدينة "تتعرض مصراتة لقصف كثيف... تقصف قوات القذافي مصراتة من ثلاث جهات.. الشرق والغرب والجنوب."
وتابع "ارسل الالاف من قواته من جميع الجهات وهي تحاول دخول المدينة. لازالت خارجها. فقدنا عشرة ثوار واصيب 36 غالبيتهم بجراح خطيرة."
Choppers in Action on Qaddafi
Gadhafi: 'We will not surrender, we will not give up'
June 7, 2011 -- Updated 1629 GMT (0029 HKT)
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi vowed Tuesday that "we will not surrender," even as NATO airstrikes bombarded his compound in Tripoli.
"I am now speaking as planes and bombs fall around me," Gadhafi said in a live audio broadcast on state television. "But my soul is in God's hand. We will not think about death or life. We will think about the call of duty."
At least 35 loud explosions rocked Tripoli around midday Tuesday as NATO targeted a military base and Gadhafi's compound, state television reported.
The compound was under "intensive continuous bombardment," according to state TV, which reported buildings and infrastructure in the area were destroyed in the strikes.
"We will not surrender, we will not give up," Gadhafi said. "We have one option -- our country. We will remain in it till the end. Dead, alive, victorious, it doesn't matter."
The blasts Tuesday, and others Monday that Libyan officials said hit state television buildings, elicited heated responses from a government spokesman.
"We believe NATO understands that its military campaign is failing miserably," said Musa Ibrahim, the government spokesman. "No one has the right to shape Libya's future except for Libyans."
Ibrahim said Tuesday's morning blasts hit the popular guard compound and revolution compound, which are military barracks near Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.
Ibrahim said the attack on the television network killed two people and injured 16.
NATO disputed the account.
"We did not target or hit the Libyan broadcast facilities. What we did target was the military intelligence headquarters in downtown Tripoli," the alliance said. "The story coming from Libyan officials that we targeted and hit the state broadcaster's building is bogus."
The back and forth between Libyan officials and NATO continues a public relations war between the two sides.
Libyan officials have continually charged that NATO airstrikes have damaged civilian facilities and killed hundreds of civilians.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said recently that his forces have made "significant progress" in its U.N. Security Council mandate to protect Libyan civilians.
This week, the Libyan government said it had evidence that alliance airstrikes were harming civilians.
Officials took journalists to Tajura, a city east of Tripoli, to show them a small crater that held what appeared to be the remains of a rocket.
The reporters were also taken to some nearby homes that the government said were damaged by airstrikes.
NATO, reached later by phone, said it had been active in the area hitting military sites but it could not confirm the attacks caused the damage in the residential area.
The group also was taken to a nearby hospital to see Nasib, a comatose baby, who was a victim of the airstrikes, the government claimed.
A woman, whom the government said was Nasib's mother, cried over the child's listless body.
Journalists were not allowed to talk to the grieving woman or doctors. But a doctor quietly slipped a note to one of the journalists.
The girl was injured in a car accident, the note said, not a bomb attack.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking Tuesday to British lawmakers, said the European Union has added six additional ports controlled by pro-Gadhafi forces to its sanctions list in an effort to starve Gadhafi's troops of military supplies.
He said the United Kingdom intends to push for additional sanctions against Gadhafi's regime.
"Any political settlement in Libya requires an end to violence and Gadhafi's departure," he said.
CNN's Raja Razek, Dan Rivers and Jonathan Wald contributed to this report
| NATO strikes rock Libyan capita | ||||||
Several explosions reported near Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's compound following rare daytime attacks.
Last Modified: 07 Jun 2011 10:22
| ||||||
The Reuters news agency reported on Tuesday that the explosions appeared to have taken place in the vicinity of Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound, which had been struck several times in recent weeks. The explosions sent a column of grey smoke into the sky.
The strikes hit the Popular Guard compound and the Revolutionary Guard compound, a Libyan official told reporters in the capital. Tripoli has come under increased attack from NATO bombers in recent days, with strikes occuring every few hours. On Monday, NATO air raids on the capital targeted the communications of the battered government, hitting offices of the state broadcaster and military intelligence headquarters, officials said. Rebel gains The latest air strikes follow recent gains made by rebels seeking to end Gaddafi's more than four-decades rule. Reports on Monday said the rebels had entered the northwestern town of Yafran, previously held by government forces.
"We are inside the town ... There is no sign of any Gaddafi forces. I can see the rebel flags ... We have seen posters and photos of Gaddafi that have been destroyed," Boudlal said. Meanwhile, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO's secretary-general, said the alliance had damaged or destroyed 1,800 military targets in Libya so far, thereby degrading Gaddafi's power to the extent that he would certainly be forced to step down. "We have made considerable progress," he said before a meeting of NATO defence ministers due to take place in Brussels on Monday. "We have taken the momentum, we have turned the tide of terror unleashed by the Gaddafi regime, we have saved countless lives and we have seriously degraded the ability of the Gaddafi regime to attack civilians." Diplomatic efforts On Tuesday, Russian envoy Mikhail Margelov arrived in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi, in the east of the country, to hold meetings with the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC). Margelov, acting as Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's representative, is the first top Russian official to hold talks with the rebels. "We have come to Benghazi to facilitate dialogue between the two camps," Margelov told reporters as he arrived.. Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi, the Libyan foreign minister, meanwhile, arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese officials. China has pointedly avoided joining international calls for Gaddafi to step down, but did not exercise its veto power at the United Nations Security Council during the vote authorising the use of force against the Libyan government. On Friday, China said it was reaching out for the first time to the Libyan rebel council, with the country's ambassador to Qatar meeting with the head of the TNC in Doha, the Qatari capital. Hong Lei, the Chinese foreign ministry's spokesman, told reporters at a regular briefing that talks with al-Obeidi in Beijing would focus on the need for a political solution to the Libyan crisis. |
Al Jazeera's Cal Perry updates from Ajdabiya
Published 06 June 2011 06:54 5942 Views
Six blasts were heard in Libya's capital on Sunday night as planes flew overhead. These are likely to be new NATO air strikes, by as yet we have had no reports of damage. Earlier, Russia warned that NATO is 'one step' away from sending ground troops into the country, after French and British attack helicopters joined the battle. Al Jazeera's Cal Perry has spent some time with opposition forces in Ajdabiya
Reports from Ajdabiya
ليبيا: انفجارات في طرابلس والمعارضة تقول انها سيطرت على بلدة يفرن
آخر تحديث: الثلاثاء، 7 يونيو/ حزيران، 2011، 03:51 GMT
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