Libya: the fight for Ras Lanuf

Gaddafi blames al Qaeda for the crisis and denies mass killings. [voice of policeman shooing spectators away] “All is well in Libya. Move along now, nothing to see here.” France24 has an interview with Gaddafi just published today where the leader gives his take on what’s going on. (see below)

Pro-Gaddafi forces are going after the town of Ras Lanuf after having withdrawn on Sunday. The Telegraph is reporting that civilians have been panicking and trying to get out of harm’s way. This city has apparently changed hands three times in the past week.

It seems to be difficult or next to impossible to get a clear picture of what’s going on. Conflicting reports are everywhere and of course, state media is doing nothing to remedy this. Libyan TV is painting a very one-sided portrait of the conflict and is not to be trusted for accurate information.

VOA breaks some frightening news. Rebels have backed away from Bin Jawwad but are giving an explanation which if true, could change what comes after the conflict. A leader of the opposition is accusing pro-Gaddafi forces of using women and children as shields to protect themselves, forcing the rebels to retreat. Using civilians as a human shield is a war crime, and this is not the first such accusation made during the conflict. (click here for a BBC map of the area)

Dutch helicopter captured

This past Thursday, a helicopter from the Dutch frigate MS Tromp, stationed in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast was captured by Gaddafi forces in Sirte. Its mission was to rescue two foreigners, one a Dutch citizen. They have since been handed over to the Dutch embassy and have left the country but the helicopter and its crew of three Ditch soldiers remain in the custody of militias loyal to Gaddafi. They are accused of violating international law by infiltrating Libyan airspace without clearance. Apparently Libyan state TV has stated that the mission of the Dutch was to evacuate or drop off spies.

Britain’s SAS

It seems the British have had a humiliating time in Libya, The story goes that a joint M16-SAS team was sent in secretly to arrange talks with rebel leaders. Landing by helicopter west of Benghazi in the desert, the seven man team, armed with false passports, explosives and weapons, was immediately captured by armed farm hands. While UK was claiming rebel leaders had been previously notified, the local defence forces were suspicious of the fake passports thinking the group was spying for Gaddafi.

To further the humiliation, calls by London to opposition forces were intercepted by pro-Gaddafi security and broadcast on Libyan TV. The “Special Forces” team has now been released although this somewhat farcical event has made a bit of a laughing stock out of G.B. Apparently there is a political uproar in Britain over this and Guardian reported that Mustafa Gheriani, spokesperson for the Libyan opposition asked, “If this is an official delegation why did they come with a helicopter? Why didn’t they [inform the revolutionary council] that ‘we are coming, we’d like to land at Benina airport’, or come through Egypt like all the journalists have done.”

Euronews – Mar 7/2011

Libyan rebels battered by Gaddafi forces

The battle for who controls Libya shows all the signs of turning into a long-drawn out affair. In what is becoming an ill-defined a fast-moving front line rebels appear to remain in charge of the key oil port of Ras Lanuf, but looked to have lost other strategic outposts, notably Bin Jawwad to the west, following a strong counter attack by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

Euronews – Mar 7/2011

Fears Libya’s revolt may become civil war

There are fears that Libya’s uprising against Muammar Gaddafi’s rule is turning into a protracted civil war. Witnesses say government forces have recaptured the town of Bin Jawwad from the rebels. Anti-government fighters claim to be in control of Zawiyah just 50 kilometres west of the capital Tripoli, but forces loyal to the Libyan leader have been counter-attacking with considerable power. Rebel leaders said they fought off three assaults by government tanks and infantry over the weekend, each one bigger than the last.

France24: Exclusive interview with Gaddafi

This French news service has a bit of a scoop managing to get the Libyan leader to sit down in a one on one to discuss the current situation in Libya. In the same way Libyan state television is painting a good picture of the crisis in the country, Gaddafi’s take on his country crisis is one of a much lesser importance than the pictures of rebel held towns would lead one to believe.

France 24 – Mar 7/2011

Gaddafi insists al Qaeda is to blame for chaos and killings

France 24 – Mar 7/2011

Exclusive – Libya : Muammar Gaddafi speaks to FRANCE 24

In an exclusive interview with FRANCE 24, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi repeated his claim that al Qaeda was responsible for plunging the country into chaos and denied media reports of mass killings.

Al Jazeera: Libya: A State of Terror

The news service has put together an interesting documentary on Libya and its leader. It is about 30 minutes long and provides a fairly detailed look at how other people, Libyans outside of the country view what’s been happening and what is currently happening in their homeland.

Al Jazeera – Mar 3/2011

Libya: A state of terror

As Gaddafi wages war against a popular uprising, Libyan exiles explain how terror has long been a tool of the regime.

Wikipedia: 2011 Libyan uprising

The 2011 Libyan uprising began as a series of protests and confrontations occurring in the North African state of Libya against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule. The protests began on 15 February 2011 and escalated into a widespread uprising by the end of February, with fighting verging at the brink of civil war as of 6 March 2011. Inspiration for the unrest is attributed to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, connecting it with the wider 2010–11 Middle East and North Africa protests.

By the end of February, Gaddafi had lost control of a significant part of the country, including the major cities of Misurata and Benghazi. The Libyan opposition had formed a National Transitional Council and free press had begun to operate in Cyrenaica. Social media had played an important role in organizing the opposition.

Gaddafi remains in control of Tripoli, Sirt, Zliten, and Sabha, as well as several other towns. Gaddafi controls the well-armed Khamis Brigade, among other loyalist military and police units, and a large number of foreign mercenaries. Some of Gaddafi’s officials, as well as a number of current and retired military personnel, have sided with the protesters and requested the international community to help bring an end to massacres of civilians, many of whom are non-combatants.

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