GADDIFI TOPPLED!!!!!TRIPOLI CELEBRATING!!!!!!!!

Latest on Al Jazeera:

Moussa Ibrahim, a spokesman for Gaddafi, said the Libyan leader was ready to resist rebels for months, or even years, and vowed to turn Libya into "volcanoes, lava and fire".

Speaking by telephone to Al-Orouba and al-Rai, Ibrahim said that Gaddafi's forces had captured four "high ranking" Qataris and one United Arab Emirates national, and said that rebel leaders would not enjoy peace if they moved to Tripoli from the eastern city of Benghazi.

So, PRO Gaddafi forces are now bombarding the compound? Just my personal view, but I don't think he has left Tripoli - I think he is somewhere under the streets.

bb1 wrote:So, PRO Gaddafi forces are now bombarding the compound? Just my personal view, but I don't think he has left Tripoli - I think he is somewhere under the streets.

If he is under the compoind then there is a very simple way of finding out - clear the compound of everyone then pump tear gas or an equivalent through the tunnels. That would force him out .... or if he decided to stay and the rest staggered out, coughing and retching, lob in a couple of stun grenades. Not rocket science, is it? LL

Shades of Saddam Hussein. Hiding in a Rat Hole. Personally, I think he has gone because he will not subject himself to that sort of humiliation. And they would probably kill him if they found him. I suspect that he hopes that one of his sons will rally support for his return.

I just saw an interesting interview with Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Minister.

Now, I freely admit that it is truly bizarre that the people who are actually and legally responsible for Magrahi are the East Renfrewshire Social Work department, but moving on...

MacAskill pointed out that Magrahi is clearly dying by inches, and when he was being wheeled onto Gaddafi rallies as some kind of hero, he may not actually have wanted to be there....

And that it was Blair and co who exploited his release on medical grounds to go and glad-hand Gaddafi, not the Scottish government.

I personally suspect Magrahi is at the end of his days, now. A huge chunk of the Libyan medical budget was probably being poured into keeping him alive; that has all gone now, and Libyan hospitals are struggling to care for injured fighters and civilians, never mind keeping convicted bombers with terminal cancer alive beyond their normal life span.

It seems there is a huge battle going on at Tripoli Airport; the pro-gadaffi troops are pouring everything they have to trying to retake it - the rumour is that they are trying to clear a way for Gadaffi to get there and maybe fly out. However, as one reporter said, that is something NATO will be watching for as they have the mandate to stop anything flying anywhere. If I get any more on this I will post it up. LL

But it might suggest that it is possible to give a longer life to Cancer Sufferers. So what's with it with The National Health Service?

Oh, sorry, I forgot. Most people dying from Cancer are Old Age Pensioners, and who cares about them when they are costing the country money in their own hard earned Pensions.
Bugger them for a bit of quality of old age. Sod off and die.

Me? I shall extract every last penny. It's wot keeps me going. Oh, and JATYK of course. Don't knock it. This is my life.

the rumour is that they are trying to clear a way for Gadaffi to get there and maybe fly out

That makes sense, LL - it suggests desperate measures? I suspect NATO would shoot down any flights they had not authorized, and the rebels are well armed, too.

On a happier note - the outside world saw Alex Crawford's pleading for help from the Tripoli hospital, and plans are underway to get it in.

The main problem is the continuing fighting, and the possibility that the port has been mined.

But it might suggest that it is possible to give a longer life to Cancer Sufferers


Good point; however, apart from his own doctors, the only people who know about his true state of health are the East Renfrewshire social work department, who have been speaking to him regularly by a Skype video link...

I don't see him living too long without intensive medical care, frankly, and the rebels will be none too concerned about the well-being of someone who is a symbol of their country's recent pariah status. They have more pressing concerns.

The journalists being held by pro Gadaffi forces in the Rixos Hotel have been freed, unhurt. LL

Lamplighter wrote:

The journalists being held by pro Gadaffi forces in the Rixos Hotel have been freed, unhurt. LL

Oh, that is good news, LL - I know I was having visions of horrible final showdowns with them being used as human shields, or bargaining chips to get Gaddafi out.

bb1 wrote:

Lamplighter wrote:

The journalists being held by pro Gadaffi forces in the Rixos Hotel have been freed, unhurt. LL

Oh, that is good news, LL - I know I was having visions of horrible final showdowns with them being used as human shields, or bargaining chips to get Gaddafi out.

It seems there were also some politicians and other high-ups there too. All safe. LL

The freed journo speaking on Sky just now - Jude? sounded in fine fettle, and was off for a beer. I was glad they persuaded one of their guards to come out with them, once he changed sides.

There is an unconfirmed story that a general, in charge of the elite Guards that protected Gadaffi, was working undercover for the rebels for the last month before the rebels attacked Tripoli and they he managed to get most of the Guards to lay down their arms or even to defect. I will keep an eye out for any corroboration of this. LL

£1m for Gaddafi 'dead or alive'
Press Association – 2 hours 7 minutes ago

A £1 million reward has been offered for the capture of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi as Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the Libyan dictator to recognise his 42-year rule was over and stand down his forces.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of the Transitional National Council, said he supported the offer by Libyan businessmen for a reward of two million Libyan dinars to anyone handing over Gaddafi "dead or alive". He also offered amnesty to "members of (Gaddafi's) close circle who kill him or capture him".

His comments came as some 35 journalists held at the Hotel Rixos in Tripoli were released by soldiers loyal to the 69-year-old dictator. The hotel is reported to be one of the last buildings under the control of Gaddafi's forces.

Earlier, jubilant rebel fighters swept through the capital following Tuesday night's successful siege of the despot's heavily-fortified Bab al-Aziziya compound. After storming the luxury home, they raised the new Libyan flag over buildings and looted Gaddafi's personal possessions, including his famous colonel's hat - effectively ending the brutal 42-year regime.

Some of Gaddafi's closest allies in government also appear to be deserting him.
Abdul Ati al-Obeidi, Gaddafi's former foreign minister, told Channel 4 News that the regime had come to an end. Speaking from Tripoli, he said the rebels were now responsible for restoring law and order to Libya.

But Gaddafi was still resisting arrest as he went on the run. He said it was a "tactical" move to flee his base in Tripoli, adding that he had gone on a discreet tour of the Libyan capital and did not feel in danger.

Mr Hague said it was now time for Gaddafi to recognise defeat. Speaking after he chaired a meeting of the National Security Council in London, Mr Hague said: "There is a clear, fundamental decisive rejection of the regime by the people of Libya. I think it is time now for Colonel Gaddafi to stop issuing delusional statements and recognise that that has happened, that control of the country is not going to return. He should be telling his dwindling remaining forces now to stand down."

CNN: Report that 4 Italian journalists have been kidnapped in Libya. More on this as I get it. LL

Thanks, LL, let's hope they are swiftly freed.

Meanwhile:

Mustafa Abdel Jalil, head of the Transitional National Council, said he supported the offer by Libyan businessmen for a reward of two million Libyan dinars to anyone handing over Gaddafi "dead or alive". He also offered amnesty to "members of (Gaddafi's) close circle who kill him or capture him".

Now, why do I think option A. will be the most likely? I do hope any body doubles of Gaddafi are safely out of the way.

Al Jazeera Live Blog:
17 min 36 sec ago

Ongoing fighting across the Libyan capital has resulted in a number of casualties. Medical staff at Tripoli Central hospital are struggling to cope with the growing number of patients and an urgent need for more medical supplies.

Al Jazeera's James Bays reports from Tripoli:

41 min 37 sec ago - Libya

REUTERS - Four Italian journalists were abducted near Zawiya in Libya on Wednesday, the Italian foreign ministry said.

The journalists worked for Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera, La Stampa and Avvenire, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said.

Good morning!

Al Jazeera:

Price on Gaddafi's head as fighting goes on

Rebels announce cash reward for capturing or killing Gaddafi as fighting rages in pockets of Libyan capital.
Last Modified: 25 Aug 2011 05:58

Libyan rebels have offered a million-dollar bounty for the capture of Muammar Gaddafi, after he urged his men to fight on in battles across parts of the capital, Tripoli.

Gaddafi's location was still unknown on Thursday and rebels said they would offer amnesty and reward to anyone who kills or captures the 69-year-old Libyan leader.

In Benghazi, the National Transitional Council (NTC) told a news conference on Wednesday that Libyan businessmen had contributed $1.7m for the cash reward.

But as a reminder that he remained on the loose, Gaddafi made an audio address broadcast earlier on Wednesday by the al-Rai television channel. In the address, the defiant leader called on Tripoli residents to repel the rebels' advance.

"All Libyans must be present in Tripoli, young men, tribal men and women must sweep through Tripoli and comb it for traitors," he said. "I have been out a bit in Tripoli discreetly, without being seen by people, and ... I did not feel that Tripoli was in danger."

Al-Rai television channel quoted the Libyan leader as saying that he had retreated from his Tripoli compound in a "tactical move" after blaming NATO for 64 air strikes that reduced his compound to rubble.

"These gangs seek to destroy Tripoli," Gaddafi said, referring to the rebels. "They are evil incarnate. We should fight them."

Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, who heads the NTC and was a minister in Gaddafi's government until the February uprising against his rule, cautioned: "It is too early to say that the battle of Tripoli is over. That won't happen until Gaddafi and his sons are captured."

Reports had circulated of Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, being captured by the rebels but he made a defiant public appearance on Tuesday, smiling and shaking hands with supporters. The whereabouts of five of Gaddafi's other sons is unknown.

Rebels meet resistance

Meanwhile, fighters loyal to Gaddafi continued to put up stiff resistance in several Tripoli neighbourhoods early on Thursday, against rebels seeking to consolidate their grip over the capital, two days after they seized the Libyan leader's heavily fortified Bab al-Aziziya compound.

Maram Wafa, a resident of Tripoli, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that rebels controlled the majority of the city but that there was still heavy fighting in pockets of the city.

"I'm in contact with many of the freedom fighters, three or four hours ago there was fighting [with Gaddafi loyalists] one [of them] told me on the phone," she said.

"The city is full of snipers, the streets are not safe, and everyone is staying indoors."

According to Al Jazeera correspondents on Wednesday, snipers also posed a threat to rebel fighters in Bab al-Aziziya, even after the compound was overrun by rebels.

Al Jazeera's Sue Turton, reporting from inside the compound, said rebels were attempting to flush out snipers still inside the compound with heavy weaponry.

"We do think that the rebels really are in control of the majority of that compound, and are in control of the majority of this city, but at the moment all they can do is focus on these pockets of resistance," she said.

"As soon as you say the word 'sniper', it puts fear into people; people can't go about their businesses here. The streets are still pretty empty."

Rebels say at least 400 of their men have been killed and 200 injured in the battle for Tripoli.

"The vast majority of the city is in opposition control, but it is still a very dangerous place," Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Tripoli's central hospital on Wednesday, said.

Bays said the central hospital is struggling to cope with the wounded and the staff is overwhelmed. Doctors gave Bays a long list of medical supplies they are in urgent need of.

'Looking for Gaddafi'

Rebels fought their way into Gaddafi's compound on Tuesday, using mortars, heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns.

"We're looking for Gaddafi now. We have to find him now," said Sohaib Nefati, a rebel sitting against a wall with a machine gun.

Abdel-Aziz Shafiya, a 19-year-old rebel dressed in camouflage with a rocket-propelled grenade slung over one shoulder and a machine gun over the other, said the rebels believed Gaddafi was inside the compound but hiding underground.

"Wasn't he the one who called us rats? Now he is the rat underground," he said.

Abdelati Obeidi, the Libyan foreign minister, said Libya's civil war was virtually over, in an interview with Britain's Channel 4 News on Wednesday.

While Gaddafi has his back to the wall, the area of Sirte, his birthplace on the northern coast, and the town of Sabha in the south, reportedly still remain loyal to him.

I think the Libyan people may be a little upset now they can see where the country's money was going, LL:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029816/Gaddafis-Neverland-Fairground-rides-zoo-shrine-dead-daughter-Inside-tyrants-bizarre-lair.html





And here is one Blair will want to forget:

Al Jazeera:

World powers rush in to rebuild Libya

By unfreezing assets and offering loans, governments from London to Beijing are extending help to the 'new' Libya.
Last Modified: 24 Aug 2011 14:42

As the endgame of the Muammar Gaddafi regime plays out in Libya, members of the international community - from world powers to oil companies - are gathering to discuss their respective roles in the country's future.

Decades of partial isolation imposed by Gaddafi have left the oil-rich country's economy reeling from a raft of sanctions and its government in a diplomatic no man's land.

The rebel government, or National Transitional Council (NTC), has said it intends to change all that.

In comments published on Wednesday in an Italian newspaper, NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil said the "new" Libya would build "strong relations with other countries, based on mutual respect and co-operation".

Going by Wednesday's flurry of diplomatic action, foreign countries appeared eager to reciprocate. Meanwhile, with oil prices hovering near $100 per barrel, foreign entities invested in Libya have a strong incentive to get production back up and running.

Unlocking assets

In a move led by France and Britain, the United Nations on Wednesday announced that the world body is working on a draft resolution that would enable Libyan assets to be unfrozen and sanctions to be unlocked, a French diplomatic source told reporters.

Britain has said it will ask the UN to release all or part of the $20bn of Libyan assets frozen in the United Kingdom to aid the rebels, a government source said on Wednesday.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution freezing the regime's assets abroad after Gaddafi launched a crackdown on pro-democracy protests in February.

But with the rebels' largely successful advance into Tripoli this week, attention has turned to how to channel resources to the rebels.

The United States said on Tuesday it was seeking to release up to $1.5bn in frozen Libyan assets in order to help the rebels establish a "secure government and meet humanitarian needs". The US is reported to have at least $37bn in frozen Libyan assets.

Diplomatic appeals

Mahmoud Jibril, head of the executive committee of NTC, attended a summit in Doha on Tuesday with representatives from the US, the UK, France, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey to seek additional funds to help rebuild what he called the "new" Libya.

Jibril, who is referred to as prime minister of the country, also met with Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, in Paris on Wednesday to discuss prospects for a political transition in a post-Gaddafi era.

Sarkozy told reporters after the meeting that France is "in favor of a message of reconciliation" but added that NATO would continue flying missions over Libya.

"Military operations will stop when they no longer have any reason to be [in place], when Gaddafi is no longer a threat," Sarkozy said.

"We will continue acting within the mandate given to us by the UN to protect civilian forces," he added.

Sarkozy called for a special "Friends of Libya" conference to be held in Paris in the next 10 days which could bring together as many as 30 foreign leaders and international organizations to discuss Libya's reconstruction and transition into a democratic state.

NATO, which provided vital air support and supplies to the opposition, is now exploring a possible future role for the alliance after the civil war ends.

An NATO official said on Wednesday that military staff are considering support for a future UN mission to help stabilize the country.

On Tuesday, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu laid out several conditions for such a mission.

Germany, which came under criticism for its residence to the NATO role in Libya, has also expressed interest in post-Gaddafi Libya. Berlin offered a $144m loan to the NTC on Tuesday for "humanitarian and civil assistance".

Germany, which has a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, in March abstained in a vote authorising a Libya mission to shield civilians and enforce a no-fly zone.

It was the only European Union or NATO member to do so and provoked heavy rebukes from key allies including the US and France.

Berlin even withdrew warships, refusing to let them participate in a NATO operation in the Mediterranean to enforce a UN-mandated arms embargo on Libya.

China weighs in

China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, also abstained from voting on the resolution which authorised a NATO bombing campaign to protect civilians in Libya, as did Russia.

Beijing has since been critical of NATO's actions in Libya, urging a compromise between the country's government and the rebels.

Beijing initially maintained a policy of non-interference and public neutrality on the conflict, but has since shown a willingness to engage, holding talks with both government officials and rebel leaders.

On Wednesday, China's foreign ministry called for a smooth transition of political power - the closest it has come to a formal recognition of the opposition NTC.

According to a previous commerce ministry statement, China currently has 50 large-scale projects worth at least $18.8bn in Libya.

China, a major oil importer, also needs to secure of the resource to help keep its huge economy moving.

Libyan oil

Libya produced about 1.6 million barrels per day of oil before the rebellion broke out, but output has since slowed to a trickle.

With the aim of improving that situation, foreign oil companies are jockeying for positions in Libya's energy sector.

Italian Energy group ENI has been in almost daily direct contact with the leaders of the Libyan rebels since April, the head of the oil group, Paolo Scaroni, said in comments published on Wednesday.

ENI has been present in Libya since the 1950s and was the country's biggest foreign energy operator before the conflict broke out, employing 2000 people in plants that produced around 15 per cent of the company's total output.

Scaroni dismissed rumours that France would be rewarded for its early and decisive role in aiding the rebels with energy contracts once the civil war is over.

"Thanks to our historic presence in the country, I do not think France will want to replace us," he said.

24/08/2011 21:57 UNITED NATIONS, Aug 24 (AFP)
US-S. Africa battle at UN over Libya aid
South Africa refused Wednesday to lift a block on the United States unfreezing $1.5 billion dollars of Libyan assets to buy humanitarian aid, setting up a diplomatic showdown at the UN Security Council.

The United States said it would seek a Security Council vote on a resolution unfreezing the aid on Thursday if there was no agreement.

South Africa insisted the council wait for the African Union to decide whether to recognize the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) at a summit Thursday before approving the move.

Negotiations between the two sides and other members of the 15 nation council were expected to go on until the US deadline of 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) on Thursday.

The United States asked the UN's Libya sanctions committee on August 8 for permission to unfreeze the $1.5 billion dollars of assets. The money would be channeled through the NTC, non-government groups and an international fund for Libya to buy fuel and other humanitarian supplies, according to US officials.

"We still hope that this can be settled through consensus in the next 24 hours," Mark Kornblau, spokesman for the US mission at the United Nations told reporters after Security Council consultations on the US request.

"If it is not, the plan is to have a vote tomorrow on the resolution," he added, highlighting "the urgent humanitarian needs on the ground."

South Africa's UN ambassador Baso Sangqu said "all 15 members are concerned about the humanitarian crisis, whether in Tripoli or in Benghazi. We want to ensure that we follow due process, follow the rule of law."

"We are proposing simply that we give ourselves time, the AU is meeting tomorrow to make a determination on Libya, to take a decision on the recognition of the NTC or otherwise."

South Africa is a key member of the AU and has played a central role in AU efforts to mediate in the Libya crisis.

South Africa fears that "when you release this money to any side that is aligned to a conflict, you could be one way or another recognizing that entity as legal."

European nations on the Security Council and the United States are also working on a broader resolution setting out a UN presence in Libya after any final defeat of Moamer Kadhafi and for the definitive ending of sanctions imposed this year against the Kadhafi regime.

Al Jazeera Live Blog:

29 min 45 sec ago

The Arab League has given its full backing to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people and said it was time for Libya to take back its permanent seat on the League's council.

"We agreed that it is time for Libya to take back its legitimate seat and place at the Arab League. The NTC will be the legitimate representative of the Libyan state," Nabil Elaraby, the League's secretary-general, told reporters in Cairo.

The NTC's representative at the League, Abdelmoneim el-Houni, said Libya would resume its League membership at a meeting of Arab ministers on Saturday.

Mainly good news, LL - but what is SA playing at?