Libya - Latest Updates Part II ( Archived) (937)

Good to see they've organized into a united front. Not exactly easy in a country of many tribes...

I wonder if Tripoli can stand on it's own without the eastern 4/5th of the country?

Militarily yes as Gaddafi's forces especially the Khamis Battallion are very well armed and are reknowned as the most elite fighters in the country. However finincially Tripoli depends on the oil producing regions deep in the country and the coastal refineries which is why loyal troops are battling to win back Ras Lanuf and Bregha.

Az Zawiyah is more strategic as it is only around 50km south of Tripoli and therefore a bit too close for comfort.

Gunfire reported in Tripoli:

Sustained gunfire has erupted in the centre of Libya's capital, Tripoli, an area that has so far been relatively free of violence.

It was unclear who was carrying out the shooting, which started at about 5:45am (0345 GMT) this morning.

Sources from Al Jazeera quote witnesses as hearing automatic weapon rounds, some of heavy calibre, echoing around central Tripoli along with pro-government chants, whistling and a cacophony of car horns as vehicles sped through the vicinity.

However, a government spokesman denied any fighting was under way in Tripoli. "I assure you, I assure you, I assure you, I assure you, there is no fighting going on in Tripoli," Mussa Ibrahim told the Reuters.

"Everything is safe. Tripoli is 100 per cent under control. What you are hearing is celebratory fireworks. People are in the streets, dancing in the square."

What is happening in Libya depends on who you believe:

Apparently in the capital, Tripoli, they believe Gaddafi's forces have taken back control of the towns of Az-Zawiyah and Misrata from the rebels.

Elsewhere, rebel sources state otherwise.

In Tripoli, people believe celebrations are under way for yesterday's pro-Gaddafi victories in Az Zawiyah and Misurata.

Mohammed Ali, a member of the civil committee for Misurata affairs, says that they are firmly in control of the city and are prepared for any attack by Gaddafi's forces.

Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Tripoli, reports seeing pro-Gaddafi forces on foot and in their vehicles, chanting in celebration yet she says, gunfire has been going on for 3 hours now and saw police cars taking off from near hotel.

At the moment we have two Libyas and two truths.

Good Morning gini! Not exactly the 'dancing' is by loyalists claiming minor victories on rebels!

Nice sunny day here though a bit windy... still better than the gray skies and fog of 2 days ago.

More on the presumed SAS soldiers capture:

The paper claims the SAS soldiers were taken to Benghazi, the rebel stronghold, where they are being interrogated. this latter news does not seem to make sense as why would the rebel faction capture British soldiers? Then again, anything is possible...

The full statement from the MoD read: "We neither confirm nor deny the story and we do not comment on the special forces."


Meantime Libyan state TV has show footage of the Dutch navy helicopter and the crew members, who where captured while attempting to evacuate two foreign citizens.

The TV showed the three-strong crew, their Lynx helicopter and weapons, saying they had entered Libyan air space "in breach of international law".

You can see the video on BBC here:

Reports coming from Greece state that at least 3 people died and 28 others hospitalized amongst Bangladeshi evacuated from Libya on the southern island of Crete.

The dead and injured were found on a beach near two ships with a total of about 2,000 evacuees recently arrived from Libya. Authorities were checking whether the 31 men, mainly from Bangladesh had jumped overboard, possibly in an attempt to avoid being transferred home.