Libya - Latest Updates Part II (937)
The reports say,that about 1200 evacuees, mainly Asians,arrived at the port of Souda in the island of Crete and just as the Ionian King entering the harbour 46 people jumped overboard,aiming to be on EU soil,so to avoid repatriation.The Greek cost guard,found 3 drown, they saved 23 and 20 missing so far,presumably managed to reach land.
zeus911: 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.
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.
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chris27292729: The reports say,that about 1200 evacuees, mainly Asians,arrived at the port of Souda in the island of Crete and just as the Ionian King entering the harbour 46 people jumped overboard,aiming to be on EU soil,so to avoid repatriation.The Greek cost guard,found 3 drown, they saved 23 and 20 missing so far,presumably managed to reach land.
Thanks Chris and keep us updated on any developments...------ This thread is Archived ------
Following counter attacks, rebel forces have been reported as falling back to Ras Lanuf from positions to the west, while firing at government helicopters. Al Jazeera reports that oppositions forces shot down at least 1 helicopter.
Also news of an aircraft that appears to be a unmanned drone above Ras Lanuf.
Also news of an aircraft that appears to be a unmanned drone above Ras Lanuf.
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Paldi5: I hope they will be treated well and their mission succeeds. Makes you wonder why this news went public.
Oh... found this.
Jon Leyne:
BBC News, Benghazi
-I spoke to one person and he said it's ok, they're fine. We're in contact with London, just give us a few days and it'll all be ok.
I think basically that the opposition here, the people in control, have an understanding of the situation: these are not hostile people.
The problem was arriving on a helicopter, in the middle of the night, carrying weapons.
You can understand the sort of fears that provoked here and so there were misunderstandings, they have been arrested.
The big question here is why on earth, if this was some kind of diplomatic or even military liaison, why they chose to do it like this?
The HMS York was docked in Benghazi harbour on Wednesday.
So if Britain wanted to send anybody in to the court house where the proto-government is based here, they could have jumped in a taxi, or even walked there, from the harbour.
BBC News, Benghazi
-I spoke to one person and he said it's ok, they're fine. We're in contact with London, just give us a few days and it'll all be ok.
I think basically that the opposition here, the people in control, have an understanding of the situation: these are not hostile people.
The problem was arriving on a helicopter, in the middle of the night, carrying weapons.
You can understand the sort of fears that provoked here and so there were misunderstandings, they have been arrested.
The big question here is why on earth, if this was some kind of diplomatic or even military liaison, why they chose to do it like this?
The HMS York was docked in Benghazi harbour on Wednesday.
So if Britain wanted to send anybody in to the court house where the proto-government is based here, they could have jumped in a taxi, or even walked there, from the harbour.
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Paldi5: Oh... found this.
Interesting. I still don't see why they would be arrested and for what?
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zeus911: Thanks Chris and keep us updated on any developments...
I don't get it, why would they jump? Is the Ionian King a person or a ship?
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Colleene1024: Interesting. I still don't see why they would be arrested and for what?
Acing suspiciously in the dead of night carrying weapons? The locals just wanted to find out who they were and why they came in by copter. No big deal.
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Al Jazeera reports the 8 captured British SAS as freed.
According to their correspondent Hoda Hamid, The eight members of a British mission earlier reported 'captured' in Benghazi have boarded the HMS Cumberland and have left the country.
She saw them board the boat, and believes they are headed toward Malta. She also said she was shown an official letter explaining seven of them were providing the security detail for the eighth, a diplomat, who was attempting to get in contact with opposition forces.
Members of the opposition have said the eight were released, as anti-Gaddafi groups were also attempting to make contact with international diplomats.
On the surface, it's seen to be a bit of an embarassing misunderstanding for all sides involved. What more there is to be uncovered remains to be seen. Opposition officials said the man carried advanced computer equipment with them.
According to their correspondent Hoda Hamid, The eight members of a British mission earlier reported 'captured' in Benghazi have boarded the HMS Cumberland and have left the country.
She saw them board the boat, and believes they are headed toward Malta. She also said she was shown an official letter explaining seven of them were providing the security detail for the eighth, a diplomat, who was attempting to get in contact with opposition forces.
Members of the opposition have said the eight were released, as anti-Gaddafi groups were also attempting to make contact with international diplomats.
On the surface, it's seen to be a bit of an embarassing misunderstanding for all sides involved. What more there is to be uncovered remains to be seen. Opposition officials said the man carried advanced computer equipment with them.
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Gaddafi's government claims control of Benghazi and Tobruk in the far east of the country - denied by the Gaddafi opposition there. Airstrikes in the rebel-held Ras Lanuf have been reported. There is ongoing fighting in Bin Jawad, halfway between Ras Lanuf and Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte. Az Zawiyah, just west of Tripoli, remains under bombardment.
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Both making claims and we sit here wondering what the real truth is...Hilary blasted the USA news Friday advising them they had missed the boat on this one...Pretty much accused them of caring about rating more than what was going on around the world...Of course they r whining today...I really do appreciate ur updates because what we r getting is so limited and long after the fact...
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Seems there is pretty much a full-blown Civil War going on!
Not good,not good at all!
will take years to heal the Wounds between the Antagonists.
Not good,not good at all!
will take years to heal the Wounds between the Antagonists.
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Naval Movements: The situation at the Grand Harbour has quietened down with no evacuee ship in sight for the last days. The Maltese catamarans, the 'San Gwann' (pictured below) and the 'Maria Dolores' have both been in harbour for at least 2 days, apparently the shuttle service to Libyan ports is at a standstill.
The British warships 'HMS Cumberland' and 'HMS York' are both in the vicinity of Benghazi with the former reported picking up the small SAS 'delegation' of this morning.
The German Frigate 'Rheinland-Pfalz' also left harbour Friday and the remaining warship is currently the Korean 'Choi Young' (pictured below).
The situation at the harbour is so calm at the moment that as I was enjoying a pizza at a seafront restaurant less than 100m from the Choi Young yesterday, you would think the vessel was here on a routine stop.
That obviously does not mean the panic is over, more likely 'the calm before the storm'.
Picture: The Catamaran 'San Gwann' at the Grand Harbour
Picture: The South Korean 'ROCS Choi Young' at the Grand Harbour
The British warships 'HMS Cumberland' and 'HMS York' are both in the vicinity of Benghazi with the former reported picking up the small SAS 'delegation' of this morning.
The German Frigate 'Rheinland-Pfalz' also left harbour Friday and the remaining warship is currently the Korean 'Choi Young' (pictured below).
The situation at the harbour is so calm at the moment that as I was enjoying a pizza at a seafront restaurant less than 100m from the Choi Young yesterday, you would think the vessel was here on a routine stop.
That obviously does not mean the panic is over, more likely 'the calm before the storm'.
Picture: The Catamaran 'San Gwann' at the Grand Harbour
Picture: The South Korean 'ROCS Choi Young' at the Grand Harbour
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Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley, on the road between Ras Lanuf and Bin Jawad, reports four airstrikes on the area, but that Gaddafi's troops have retreated as the armed opposition proceeds westwards along the coast.
Tony reports this has gone so smoothly for the rebels, everyone is forced to ask: "When are Gaddafi's forces going to strike back?"
Meantime celebrations were still under way in Green Square in Tripoli till late afternoon for a 'great military victory' that people seem to believe Gaddafi's forces have already achieved...
A bit hard to understand exactly where the truth lies. Seems like the situation is very fluid at the moment with government and opposition forces winning and losing the same towns over and over.
Unless any further major defections take place within the government forces, it seems like both sides are in somewhat of a stalemate.
Tony reports this has gone so smoothly for the rebels, everyone is forced to ask: "When are Gaddafi's forces going to strike back?"
Meantime celebrations were still under way in Green Square in Tripoli till late afternoon for a 'great military victory' that people seem to believe Gaddafi's forces have already achieved...
A bit hard to understand exactly where the truth lies. Seems like the situation is very fluid at the moment with government and opposition forces winning and losing the same towns over and over.
Unless any further major defections take place within the government forces, it seems like both sides are in somewhat of a stalemate.
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Buffy327: Both making claims and we sit here wondering what the real truth is...Hilary blasted the USA news Friday advising them they had missed the boat on this one...Pretty much accused them of caring about rating more than what was going on around the world...Of course they r whining today...I really do appreciate ur updates because what we r getting is so limited and long after the fact...
Yes I heard that one about Hilary and I saw a comment somewhere about it that it's ironic that Hilary actually needs to rely on the media for information on the current situation...------ This thread is Archived ------
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Benghazi says the British diplomatic incident is "an embarrassing miscalculation by the British government, obviously unaware of the reaction likely to be provoked in this tense situation by a group of armed men arriving on a helicopter in the dead of night".
Perhaps this incident should give us an indication of how sensitive this area is to any foreign intervention.
Perhaps this incident should give us an indication of how sensitive this area is to any foreign intervention.
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This Facebook video has emerged onine in the past few hours, and claims to show the city of Misurata after opposition fighters repelled off attacks by Gaddafi's troops. It shows shell-damaged buildings and burnt out tanks. The persons filming it are driving around town showing what's happening and dialog is in arabic.
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Britians botched Libya operation became more embarrassing to the nation as a telephone call from the UK ambassador to Libya Richard Northern to a rebel leader trying to clear up the "misunderstanding" was then seemingly intercepted by Libyan authorities and broadcast on state TV.
The eight-strong team, reported to have included an MI6 officer, had been sent to the east of the country in a bid to foster links with the rebel leaders in Benghazi. But Britons apparently underestimated the vigilance of rebel troops when they apparently attempted a night infiltration by helicopter south of Benghazi. The group was reportedly detained after a search of their bags revealed ammunition, explosives, maps and fake passports.
Apart from the damage to Britain's reputation, there is speculation that the incident could hand Colonel Gaddafi a propaganda victory by adding weight to his claims of "colonial" influences in the unrest.
The eight-strong team, reported to have included an MI6 officer, had been sent to the east of the country in a bid to foster links with the rebel leaders in Benghazi. But Britons apparently underestimated the vigilance of rebel troops when they apparently attempted a night infiltration by helicopter south of Benghazi. The group was reportedly detained after a search of their bags revealed ammunition, explosives, maps and fake passports.
Apart from the damage to Britain's reputation, there is speculation that the incident could hand Colonel Gaddafi a propaganda victory by adding weight to his claims of "colonial" influences in the unrest.
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zeus911: In Libya various tribal factions exist each with its leaders. Most of these Leaders leaders and town elders have formed committees which have taken impromptu command of revolting areas. The local leaders in themselves respect a heirarchy of sorts from 'higher' or more authoratitative persons. However the main channel of command is from Benghazi, Libya's second city and the origin of the rebellion. Here a temporary 'government' has been set up and the local people's committees selected an ex-justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil as the head of this government.
As for the armed militias and battalions, a lot of army factions deserted en-bloc and joined the rebellions. These are following regular army ranks for command and civilians who are taking up arms are also following their lead. Defecting Colonel Hamid Belkhair is in charge of the rebels Benghazi military committee and thus he is in a certain way in charge.
However lack of proper communications and large distances mean that pockets of small militias are on their own and creating their own channel of command.
Arms and weaponry were highly available as many defecting battallions were fully armed and had access to arms depots, thus the rebels have anything from anti-aircraft, tanks, heavy artillary, RPGs, and all sorts small weapons and reportedly even some aircraft. However what is being described as the 'rag-tag' army is largely made up of civilians who have no combat experience, thus most weapons may not be very effective or even utilisable.
I've had information of rebellious towns who have organized themselves with leading committees and everyone doing their part. I've even seen a video of local boy-scouts in uniform clearing up public places from debris, young men securing borders, and everyone else helping out. In some places, police and authoritative people previously serving Gaddafi have returned to their posts to help out the new civilian command. Somehow the rebellious spirit is uniting them into one and they are managing themselves without much issues.
As for parties or leaders following this revolution, things are still unclear. At the moment all tribal factions and all groups are united with one purpose, however when the dust settles things can go in any direction. We have to wait and see.
As for the armed militias and battalions, a lot of army factions deserted en-bloc and joined the rebellions. These are following regular army ranks for command and civilians who are taking up arms are also following their lead. Defecting Colonel Hamid Belkhair is in charge of the rebels Benghazi military committee and thus he is in a certain way in charge.
However lack of proper communications and large distances mean that pockets of small militias are on their own and creating their own channel of command.
Arms and weaponry were highly available as many defecting battallions were fully armed and had access to arms depots, thus the rebels have anything from anti-aircraft, tanks, heavy artillary, RPGs, and all sorts small weapons and reportedly even some aircraft. However what is being described as the 'rag-tag' army is largely made up of civilians who have no combat experience, thus most weapons may not be very effective or even utilisable.
I've had information of rebellious towns who have organized themselves with leading committees and everyone doing their part. I've even seen a video of local boy-scouts in uniform clearing up public places from debris, young men securing borders, and everyone else helping out. In some places, police and authoritative people previously serving Gaddafi have returned to their posts to help out the new civilian command. Somehow the rebellious spirit is uniting them into one and they are managing themselves without much issues.
As for parties or leaders following this revolution, things are still unclear. At the moment all tribal factions and all groups are united with one purpose, however when the dust settles things can go in any direction. We have to wait and see.
Thanks for the summary, very interesting. Only thing am worried about it that some kind of extremist fanatic religious faction would not take over the government and we end up having Afghanistan/Taliban like situation right here at the edge of Europe....?
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Heavy fighting continues along the coastal regions as rebels and loyal troops continue in their struggle to gain ground.
Main fighting seems to be concentrated around Ras Lanuf and Brega which rebels still claim as under their control.
Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Brega, reports: "For a few days the rebels were making gains, but overnight it would appear that pro-Gaddafi forces took some ground. If the rebels want to capture Sirte, they will have to prepare for heavy fighting along the way."
"The rebels have been taking heavy casualties - we saw a number of ambulances on the road from the frontlines to Brega," she said.
Main fighting seems to be concentrated around Ras Lanuf and Brega which rebels still claim as under their control.
Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Brega, reports: "For a few days the rebels were making gains, but overnight it would appear that pro-Gaddafi forces took some ground. If the rebels want to capture Sirte, they will have to prepare for heavy fighting along the way."
"The rebels have been taking heavy casualties - we saw a number of ambulances on the road from the frontlines to Brega," she said.
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From other sources I have, rebel forces had in mind to march on Sirte, this being Libya's third largest city and Gaddafi's birthplace and stronghold. Reports from Sirte indicate that the prosperous city had major advantages and benefits under the Gaddafi regime with the standard of living being amongst the highest in Libya hence rebellion in the city is less likely than surrounding areas.