Tag Archives: Libya

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US says bereaved Libyan president ‘missed’ to opt for democracy

President Barack Obama expressed his regret over Libyan autocratic leader Mummar Gaddafi’s reluctance to accept rebellions’ demand for democracy, which ultimately resulted in his ouster and death. The US president considers the story of Libyan revolution as a lesson to all dictators across the globe.

President Obama stated this while talking to Jay Leno in “Tonight Show” on NBC channel. He added that Gaddafi had terrorized his nation for 42 years with his ruthless suppression and supported terrorism too.

Obama said that “the Arab Spring” or surge of revolution among Libyans to get democracy provided a good chance to Gaddafi to accept a peaceful transition of power, but he missed it.

Gaddafi was captured and killed by the supporters of National Transition Council [TNC] of Libyan rebels and later on buries in a secret place on Tuesday.

There are many diplomats and human right activists raising questions over the ways he was mocked, beaten, abused before being killed, yet Obama stressed on the fact that the former dictator had to end up like this as people of Libya wanted freedom which he had denied.

At present, the US president is busy in campaigning for 2012 presidential polls for re-election. He attended the show in his busy schedules in western states—California, Nevada and Colorado.

Obama also mentioned that he was too busy to watch his political rivals’ debates when asked by the show host.

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Libyan celebrate achieving freedom after Gaddafi’s death

Libyans are all overwhelmed with the spirit of celebration. The new rulers finally made an official declaration on behalf of Libya at Tahrir Square that the nation has got full independence.

After more than 8 months’ long bloody struggle against autocratic ruler Muammar Gaddafi, the National Transition Council [TNC] finally succeeded in snatching power from dictator’s hands and declared liberation after killing him. The death of Gaddafi ended his 42-year-long era of autocratic and exploitative rule over Libya.

International community, NATO-led coalition forces backed the rebellions with its full support and attacked pro-Gaddafi government military forces with air-strikes and other means.

However, the death of Col. Gaddafi after being captured has put the NTC under a pressure to probe.

A post-mortem of his dead body showed that dictator was shot in head.Gaddafi’s son Mutassim was also killed during fierce fights between Gaddafi-loyalists and rebellion forces. Mutassim’s body has also been put on public display along with Gaddafi’s in a cold storage in Misrata city.

The violent rebel and Gaddafi’s strong efforts to suppress the protest led to thousands of deaths. The conflicts started in February which gradually became a large-scale civil war.

By August, the protesters had captured Libyan capital city—Tripoli, however Gaddafi’s supporters continued reiterating their pledge to suppress the protests as the ruler refused to surrender depite international pressure.

Thousands of people in Libya celebrated with flags over the death of Gaddafi and end of a long era of exploitation.

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Libyan Sufi shrines attacked by Muslims

Tripoli witnessed another communal violence as fundamentalist Muslims attacked more than half a dozen shrines, which belong to “sacrilegious” sects. This has increased conflict and tension in the country, which is already boiling in the fire of revolution after ouster of autocratic ruler Mummar Gaddafi.

National Transition Council [NTC]— the rebellions party, is seeking for recognition from the international community and this communal violence may halt their desires in this regard. The new Libyan government is also fighting to combat extremists and trying not to let them influence politics and social life in the country as well as in the entire North African region.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, NTC chief has taken this violent outbreak very seriously and even appealed to top Muslim cleric to issue religious “fatwa” against the insurgents.

He also called on people to stop creating such nuisance and said that it was not a right time to do so. Jalil stated this while addressing a news conference on Tuesday.

The destruction seems to be targeting a particular sect as the targeted shrines belonged to Sufis. Fundamentalist Sunnis do not approve of Sufi practices as they consider worshipping graves as similar to idolatry, which is prohibited in Islam. According to some witnesses, many military officials were also involved in the breaking of Sufi shrines in Tripoli.

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Libyan military claims Gaddafi’s hometown Sirte under control

The transitional government’s security personals in Libya say they have captured Gaddafi’s hometown now as they have advanced near Sirte. The military forces could delayed marching directly in the town in order to avoid civilian casualties and fierce fighting.

With gaining control over Sirte, Libya’s new rulers will establish control over the entire country. It’s been two months since the rebellions waged their war against the autocratic ruler Muammar Gaddafi and seized capital Tripoli from his control.

According to new government’s commander of the Shohada Al-Manatair brigade, Mahmoud Bayu, there have been much advancement toward Sirte. He added that the military forces had already entered Ouagadougou conference centre despite fighting being continued.

National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have also taken hospitals under their control and also arrested many pro-Gaddafi fighters who were attacking from the hospital with rocket-propelled grenades. Another commander of new government, Salah Mustafa stated that they are evacuating sick and injured people while probing about those who have claimed themselves as doctors.

Around 15 pro-Gaddafi supporters were evacuated from the hospital premises.

The commander further revealed that the NTC forces had already reached the main center of the city and they were waiting for 75,000 civilians to leave the city.

Amber Miller
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Sources reveal American secret agency CIA worked with Libyan government

Following the ouster of former Libyan President Col Gaddafi, document obtained from his office has shocked people all over the globe. According to the documented evidence found from Libyan dictator’s office, American secret agency CIA, helped him in providing information on dissidents.

The CIA worked in cooperation with the intelligence service previous Libyan regime for rendition of terrorist suspects.

Muammar Gaddafi’s intelligence services took help from the CIA in rendition of rebel suspects. Abdel-Hakim Belhaj, the rebel commander in Tripoli, was also among those terror suspects, revealed the documents.

The written evidence about CIA’s involvement were found in Musa Kusa’s office, who was the ex-chief of Libyan Intelligence. The information suggest that  MI6 also informed Gaddafi about Libyan dissidents who were living in Britain.

The files have been disclosed by Human Rights Watch, which gave information on how intimately Gaddafi’s intelligence services were associated with MI6 and the CIA.

Two documents from March 2004 showed interaction between Gaddafi’s loyals with the US officials regarding  rendition of Belhaj, who was a prominent leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group. This group is now dissolved with al-Qaida.

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Libya flays NATO, asks to stop military attack

It is now 100 days since NATO started its military bombardment of Tripoli and Col Moamar Gadhafi is still in power. if not for NATO the second largest city in the country Benghazi was almost annihilated by the ruthless Gadhafi.

However the United Nations Security Council has learnt a lesson from what happened in Kosovo and was not prepared to give the Col chance to deal with the citizens of the country the way he has wanted. The UN quickly passed resolution 1973 which among other things paved the way for the creation of no flying zone inside the country. It authorized the use of all necessary measures to protect the lives of the civilians from the hand of the Gadhafi army.

The UN was passionately moved by the ugly image that was then coming out of Benghazi. If not for the quick intervention the world would have been hearing another story in Benghazi where the blood sucking leader who has been in power for than forty years was not ready to listen to the voice of change.

Encouraging by the bloody mercenaries he had recruited he posted an image that seem to be larger than life. The NATO came to the rescue of the Libyan people with air assault. This was about three months ago. NATO has continued its operation in the country for 100 days, Col Moamar Gadhafi is still in power, not only that the rebels who are supposed to be boosted by NATO operation is finding it difficult to sustain itself in Misrata.

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Gadhafi soldiers push to retake Misrata

Despite the series of air bombardment by NATO forces loyal to the embattled Libyan leader Moamar Gadhafi had launched an attack aimed at taking the Misrata which was under the control of the rebel soldiers. The attack was launched on Wednesday.

It was reported that thousands of soldiers loyal to Gadhafi infiltrated the rebel positions with cars and flags bearing the rebel colour. The attack had claimed the lives of more than 13 rebel soldiers. Eye witness reported that this battle was the bloodiest since the city of Misrata was besieged by soldiers. The hospitals in the city are reported over flowing with wounded people.

However it appears that the rebels are holding strongly to their ground. This attack is just coming barely a day after NATO had launched one of the deadliest attacks against Gadhafi in Tripoli. The government spokesperson said that over 60 missiles landed in the Tripoli claiming life of about 31 people. NATO said that it is doing everything to avoid civilian casualties in the air attacks. Gadhafi had vowed that he will fight to the last person saying that he will not leave the country. NATO and rebels had insisted that the only condition for ceasefire is that Gadhafi will leave power.

 

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China meets with rebels in Libya

The government of china has made its first confirmed contact with the Libyan rebels. This is one of the latest diplomatic setbacks encountered by Moamar Gadhafi. France said that it is persuading people that are close to the Libyan leader to convince him to leave power.

Chinese diplomats and Libyan rebels met in Qatar as a result of defections to the rebel sides by notable figures in the Libyan governments. As the war in Libya intensifies the rebels and NATO had made the departure of Gadhafi as a condition for ceasefire in the country. Gadhafi has said in clear terms that he will not leave the country. He told the South African president who came on AU delegation that he will not leave Libya. NATO had this week extended its operations which were supposed to end by June 27th for another 90 days sending a warning to Gadhafi that they are not prepared to leave Libya until they have accomplished their aims in the country.

Reacting to the situation in Libya the French foreign minister Juppe said that Col Gadhafi is more isolated adding that more of his loyalists are defecting. The Chinese foreign ministry has said that the Chinese ambassador to Qatar had discussed with the Libyan rebels on ways to bring about the development of Libya.

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Canada supports NATO attacks against Libyan government

The ambassadors of NATO countries which is fighting the Moamar Gadhafi government is Libya have agreed to extend their operations in Libya for another 90 days. The secretary general of NATO Anders Rough Rasmussen said this on Wednesday. He said that they are sending a clear signal to Gadhafi that NATO will continue to stay in the country to protect the citizens of Libya.

NATO took charge of the battle in March to protect Libyans who were caught up in the battle. The initial duration of the campaign for the 90 days was expected to elapse on June 27th. Rasmussen said that they want to send a message to the Libyan people that the alliance is solidly behind them.

It would be recalled that the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that it would require the approval of the parliament for the extension of their operations in Libya.

He said that the government will consult with the opposition to ensure that there is unanimity of decision as regarding the force extension in Libya. He said that the liberal will move a motion in the parliament and it has to sail through before the government will send troops for NATO operations.

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NATO Intensifies Campaign as Gaddafi Opts for Peace

Libyan government spokesperson said that NATO planes had carried out night attacks in the capital Tripoli and suburbs. It said that the targets of the attack were military and civilian targets. It said that the attack had resulted to the deaths of many people including civilians adding that many people were wounded as a result of the attack.

Meanwhile the South African president Mr. Jacob Zuma who came to Libya as a delegation of African Union has said that he had a meaningful deliberation with the Libyan leader. He said that Col Gadhafi is ready to implement a peace plan in the country.

President Zuma told the press in Tripoli at the end of the visit that Gadhafi has promised to abide by the AU roadmap for peace. He said that the starting point of the peace plan is the immediate ceasefire on hostilities by all sides involved in the conflict including the ending of NATO bombings.

Reacting to the AU mission to Libya the rebels in Benghazi said that they would not accept the AU roadmap for peace because it is silent on Gadhafi stepping down from power which is the core issue in the crises that are ravaging the country. A similar peace plan by AU was ignored by Gadhafi in April. It is doubtful whether the peace plan by AU would yield positive result and it appears that it is the only option that is left for Gadhafi who is steadily losing steam in the country.