Libyan Rebels Seize Gadhafi Compound

[crazybear]

Rebel fighters have seized Moammar Gadhafi's compound in the capital, Tripoli, and are celebrating what they consider a major victory over the Libyan leader and his loyalist troops.

The rebel fighters fought their way into Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound Tuesday despite heavy gunfire from pro-Gadhafi forces. Hundreds of rebels could be seen firing their weapons in the air in celebration. Others waved flags and tore down posters of Gadhafi.

Black smoke filled the skyline, while gunfire and explosions continued around the compound and several other parts of the city. It was not clear if Gadhafi or members of his inner circle were in the compound at the time, or the city of Tripoli. U.S. officials in Washington said Tuesday they believe Gadhafi was still in Libya.

In New York, Libya's Deputy UN Ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, told reporters he expects Tripoli to be completely liberated within the next 72 hours. EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton said Tuesday the rebels' political leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, told her they have control of 80 percent of the Libyan capital.

Meanwhile, Libyan rebels say they also have taken control of the eastern oil port of Ras Lanuf Tuesday. The major oil port is east on the road to Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte.

A resident of Benghazi told VOA that residents of the rebel-stronghold were honking their horns and waving flags out of their cars in celebration. He said he expected many more people to celebrate after Muslims broke their daily Ramadan fast in the evening.

A NATO spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, told reporters in Brussels that NATO's mission in Libya is not over, and that it will continue military operations until all attacks and threats of attacks against civilians have stopped.

NATO military spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie added that NATO forces are not specifically targeting Gadhafi, but that the alliance will strike "wherever is necessary" in Libya to protect civilians.

Smoke rises above downtown Tripoli following fighting at Bab al-Aziziya compound on Aug. 23, 2011. /Reuters Gadhafi's whereabouts are unknown. But his son and one-time heir apparent, Seif al-Islam, defiantly appeared in the city late Monday saying his father was still in Tripoli and that his government was still in control.

The rebels earlier claimed to have arrested Seif al-Islam, but he spoke to foreign journalists at the Gadhafi-controlled Rixos Hotel, then led a convoy of vehicles through loyalist areas, where television footage showed him pumping his fists in the air as supporters cheered him on.

The International Criminal Court on Tuesday disputed reports that it had earlier confirmed Seif al-Islam's detention, saying the court never received official word from the opposition Transitional National Council.

Senior rebel sources also said another of Gadhafi's sons -- Mohammed -- escaped house arrest Monday. A third son apparently is still in detention.

Opposition council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil said Gadhafi will receive a fair trial if captured, and that the "real moment of victory" will be when he is taken into custody. Jalil acknowledged that the rebels have yet to establish full control in Tripoli, where forces loyal to Gadhafi have battled rebels in scattered pockets.

The International Organization for Migration said Tuesday the fighting in Tripoli has forced it to delay docking a ship to begin evacuating stranded migrants. The group said the ship, which can carry 300 people, will remain off shore until the security situation improves.

In addition to parts of Tripoli, pro-government forces also control at least two major cities affiliated with his tribe -- Sabha, to the south, and Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital along the coast. NATO says government forces fired three Scud missiles toward the city of Misrata, but no injuries were reported.

The rebels broke through Tripoli's outer defenses Sunday and reached the city's central Green Square, where thousands celebrated the opposition's arrival and tore down posters of Gadhafi. Until recently, the government had used the area for mass demonstrations in support of Gadhafi.

The rebel troops moved into central Tripoli with little resistance after capturing a key military base run by the government's elite Khamis Brigade and commanded by another of Gadhafi's sons.

I think, Libya and North Korea are quite similar with each other. I heard N.Korea now is begging food & money of Russia. N.Korea may be in danger to be fallen down by the N.Korean crowds. I hope that N.Koreans could get more power to be set free from Kim Jong il like Libya. the democratic move is needed.

[WilliamColton]

Again, source or link, please.

[Mark2]

Just who are these “rebels”?

I’m reminded of the so-called rebels in the Kosovo War of the late 1990’s, the “Kosovo Liberation Army”. We were forced to pay for their so-called liberation of Kosovo, which some people might not have done had they a choice.

Current events sound like the same old story: replace a recalcitrant dictatorial government with another, more compliant, dictatorial government.

It’s interesting to note that many Objectivists (not very Objective in this case) approve of regime change in Libya but not in Egypt. The change in Egypt really was spontaneous: unlike in Kosovo and Libya where NATO was the driving force.

Relevant ancient history: The Lockerbie Pan Am flight 103 crash in December 1988 was not perpetrated by Libya but rather Iran (in retaliation for the USS Vincennes downing of Iran Air Flight 655 in July 1988 when the U.S. was supporting Saddam Hussein) – see the work of Rodney Stich. The terrorist attack in France in 1986 that was blamed on Libya was only made to look like it was done by Libya, after which Reagan bombed Tripoli and other Libyan areas killing about 40 civilians – see The Other Side of Deception by Victor Ostrovsky.

Why are we forced to pay for the “liberation” of Libya? There’s only one reason: the powerlust of elements within the administration.

And they will spin the war as in your self-interest, per usual.

They did it all for you, us Americans I mean, so be grateful lil chilins.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Mark2

[brianleepainter]

Moammar Gadhafi dead:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/10/20/nr-gadhafi-cell-video.cnn