Libya, military stalemate, Gaddafi named as war crimes suspect by ICC

[Aristodemus]

Seems its all kicking off there now.
Live Blog - Libya | Al Jazeera Blogs

3:41 pm There is a fierce battle over the eastern Libyan city of Bayda, the Reuters news agency reports. Two Libyan exile opposition groups earlier claimed that that the city had been taken over by anti-government protesters who were joined by local police forces, but now it appears that government "militias" have been reinforced and are clashing with residents, who are fighting back "with any weapons they could find."

Gaddafi was the original "looney tune" and a pin-up boy for the left. I suppose he replaced Castro in their affections.


<Mod> This thread has been merged with "Two Children killed in NATO bomb attack". </Mod>

<Mod> This thread has been merged with "Fifteen More Civilians including Three Children killed in NATO Bomb Attack in Tripoli". </Mod>

[former wesleyan]

Ghadaffi used to give his supporters carte blanch to harass people. If you were young and not too bright you got to wear jeans, a leather jacket and carry a Browning. However well they may have prospered under the relaxation of importation and travel rules, I presume they're in a minority. Bengazi will always hate the Big G.

[Kilenee]

I haven't heard any modern leftists support Ghadaffi, especially since he aligned with the U.S. towards the beginning of the so-called War on Terror.

[Catalpa]

Hopefully the Ol Buzzard will have to take wings and fly away!

Well past his sell by date....

However if he goes who or what will take his place?

[hmmm]

There's very little verifiable news coming out of Libya, obviously it's not a country that is reporter-friendly. What little news I've seen is reported second hand by sources overseas who claim to be in touch with people on the ground.

Taking the reports at face value (and like I say, they could be completely bogus), the news is very dramatic. We're talking a real revolution with army units currently fighting each other. Certainly the city of Al Bayda has fallen to the revolutionaries, with a battle underway in the second largest city of Benghazi. The government radio station has been attacked by rebels in Benghazi, and tanks are on the streets.

For now Tripoli is quiet and Gadaffi is moving units from West Libya to East. If the units remain loyal it could be a huge massacre.

[Aristodemus]

If RTE is your main source of news then very little is happening. Just watching Channel 4 News and the scale of events is much greater.

[Catalpa]

There's very little verifiable news coming out of Libya, obviously it's not a country that is reporter-friendly. What little news I've seen is reported second hand by sources overseas who claim to be in touch with people on the ground.

Taking the reports at face value (and like I say, they could be completely bogus), the news is very dramatic. We're talking a real revolution with army units currently fighting each other. Certainly the city of Al Bayda has fallen to the revolutionaries, with a battle underway in the second largest city of Benghazi. The government radio station has been attacked by rebels in Benghazi, and tanks are on the streets.

For now Tripoli is quiet and Gadaffi is moving units from West Libya to East. If the units remain loyal it could be a huge massacre.

I wonder if Egypt would intervene if requested?

[hmmm]

Al Jazeera has certainly toned down its coverage of the strife going on across the middle east - things are getting a bit too close for comfort for the Emir of Qatar I expect.

[hmmm]

There's a handy map of Libya here
http://i.infoplease.com/images/mlibya.gif

Where we're seeing the reports from is the cities on the top right - Tubroq, Darna, Benghazi, Al Marj, Al Bayda. I believe Libya is a very tribal country, so you possibly won't see the same unity of purpose as we saw in Egypt and Gadaffi can play one set of tribes off against another in this. There are lots of reports that foreign (sub Saharan) mercenaries are doing the killing of protestors on behalf of the regime.

[hmmm]

The BBC are reporting that an army General may have joined the protestors.

There are reports that army & regime special forces are fighting in Benghazi

Tripoli is largely quiet with some protests

Caller into BBC from Benghazi said people are worried that the army may be planning to turn on the people later in the night.