Following France's declaration of acceptance of the revolutionary national committee as the legal representative of Libya, Tripoli has announced via vice foreign minister Khaled Kaaim that it will suspend all diplomatic relations with the country.
Ever since the start of this conflict many people are hearing of Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam and may think he is his only son. However he is only the second eldest and just one out of nine offspring, 7 sons, 1 daughter and another adopted son. The reason for Gaddafi's second eldest rather than the firstborn seems to be related to the mothers. The eldest son, Muhammad is from Gaddafi's first wife Fatiha, which apparently pre-arranged marraige only lasting six months. The rest of his natural offspring are from his second and only wife Safia being Saif al-Islam, Saadi, Mutassim, Hannibal, Saif al-Arab, Khamis and the only daughter Ayesha. Another supposedly adopted daughter Hannah was reported as killed in the American bombing raid on Tripoli back in 1986 however this claim is disputed by many and seems to be surrounded by many inaccuracies including the presumed age being reported as anything from 4 to 12 years old at the time.
Saif is thus Gaddafi's second son but the first he had with Safia and thus seems to have been more in his favor. The very name given to the child indicates this as it is arabic for "Sword of Islam" which with the meaning of "Islam" brings on a full meaning of "Sword of submission to Allah". Traditionally such a name was a subsidiary title borne (after their name and patronym) by male members of the al-Qasimi dynasty especially sons of the ruling Imam. Thus the name of Gaddafi's favorite and potential successor (were it not for the current developments) is a name fit for a prince.
Though not exactly a protector of the faith as his name implies Saif was fitting into his role of successor quite well. Speaking good english, and with a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, he in fact has long been known as the liberal face of the despotic clan. He has called for reforms and, in contrast to his father and brothers Hannibal and al-Saadi, has never been caught in a scandal or involved in any embarrasing situations.
Libyans were actually hoping that Saif could be the answer to their future and were looking to him for the needed change. The February 17th revolt however changed all that. Both Libyans and the world have seen a different Saif, one who unfortunately has echoed his father's threats and has threw in a number of his own. Most Libyans were not as much disppointed with Muammar's reactions and rambling discourses following the events as much as they had been felt let down by what they had hoped to have been a promise of liberalisation and modernisation in their country.
Basically after 41 years no one expected any better from the aging dictator but Saif's reaction was perhaps the biggest disappointment for a nation who are now convinced more than ever that their can be no future for their country as long as a Gaddafi is at its helm.
Today being Friday is once again a day of prayer for the Islamic Libyans and is also the 3rd Friday since the beginning of this revolt. This time however Government officials have tried to contain the typical impromptu protests held by people leaving the mosques after prayers. This was done by sending official warnings to Imams in the capital to warn them of avoiding any such occurances on threat of reprisals.
Reuters also reports that a government official advised foreign journalists not to go near the Tajoura neighbourhood (the location of the main post-prayer protests of last week) as they were told that the journalists presense would incite violence.
However the same source reports that government forces pre-empted any repeat of last weeks events in Tajoura by firing tear gas and shooting in the air as around 300 people were still in their prayers in order to intimidate and disperse them even before any protests begin.
Thick black smoke is rising from an oil storage depot which has been reportedly attacked by pro-Gaddafi warplanes this morning.
A rebel fighter reporting via phone to Al Jazeera just now speaks of at least 70 dead from rebel forces and around 55 from Gaddafi's troops in fighting from yesterday. He says the diminishing rebel forces are being attacked from land, air and sea as both warplanes and gunboats are supporting the ground troops in their assault on the city.
While Ras Lanuf has been reported as taken by government forces, fighting is still raging in pockets of resistance.
Yep that's what he's claiming... as the english transcript is now available I can clarify it further: his exact words on that were, "I tell you: I, myself, had you released from Guantanamo. I know you by name ... They were handed over to us by the West. The West extradited them to us from Guantanamo, packed in sacks like chickens"
Good Morning Buffy, Too bad that we started off this day with another human tragedy in Japan, seems the world is throwing back at us more than we can handle... Anyway glad you like that post and yes of course feel free to quote and pass on links to this thread to anyone.
Libyan state TV transmitted Saif al Islam speeking to media in Tripoli as EU delegates in Brussels discuss Libya:
Saif once again attacked the perpetrators of the revolution and accused them of brutalities as he described attacks and killing of Government Officials during uprisings, of which he states as having recorded proof. Speaking in arabic in the transmitted press conference, he once again linked the leaders of the revolt to Al Qaeda but this time went further in saying that he knew some of them personally and knew them to have been freed from Guantanamo prison. The fact that rebels attacked military depots is proof he said that this is not a protest but a planned military action. While the Libyan state continues to attribute this uprising to Al Qaeda, it is not clear on why or how this organisation is to profit from the overthrowing of the Gaddafi regime.
Saif al Islam Gaddafi, Gaddafi's second eldest son has emerged as the official spokesman of the regime and is repeatedly talking to both local and foreign media where he is both throwing threats against the rebels and reiterating his family's commitment to see this through to the end.
The Maltese Prime Minister has revealed new details about the yesterday's release of the 3 Dutch crew members. He declared that during the negotiations, the Libyan counterparts had requested to trade the crew members with the 2 defected Mirage jets currently held in Malta. Dr. Gonzi speaking to Times of Malta journalists in Brussels this morning said that he made Malta's position clear in that their release was being sought unconditionally.
"Malta was instrumental in the release of these soldiers and was involved in delicate negotiations. We are very satisfied that they are returning home safely," he added.
In a separate statement, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: "We are very glad that our soldiers have been released. Sixteen million Dutch are looking forward to welcome them back home. I am grateful for the good offices of Malta and Greece that helped secure their release."
Libyan state television aired footage on today of people fleeing the Ras Lanuf and of pro-Gaddafi forces searching houses for weapons.
Rebels lost their control of the residential areas by late morning on Friday, but were reportedly holding on to part of the strategic oil port.
While the major powers, the EU, the UN, Nato, the African Union and the Arab League discuss and consider diplomatic options Gaddafi and his son Saif are keeping to their word and systematically crushing the rebels, pushing them back towards Benghazi.
40 minutes after its sister warship "Mysore", the Indian Navy amphibious transport dock ship "INS Jalashwa" has also arrived at the Grand Harbour in Valletta, Malta and is being berthed right now as I write.
Picture: The "INS Jalashwa" being berthed next to the Destroyer "INS Mysore"
Interesting is the fact that the Jalashwa is the first and only Indian naval ship to be acquired from the United States having previously been the "USS Trenton". The vessel is fully equipped with extensive medical facilities including four operating theatres, a 12-bed ward, a laboratory and a dental centre. From a military perspective the ship's flight-deck can host a number of helicopters (3 visible in above picture), amongst Harrier Jets, has a well-deck which can be flooded to launch boats and is also capable of carrying at least 1000 combat troops.
Gaddafi has dispatched a Libyan delegation to Cairo to attend an Arab League meeting on the Libyan crisis this Saturday, which session is to be held at the league's headquarters there. The team arrived in Cairo on Friday, but it is not clear if the Libyans will be admitted to the meeting following Libya's exclusion since the country has been officially suspended following the regime's reprisal of its own people.
The Arab League was originally founded by Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen but today encompasses 21 nations (excluding Libya). In all the League covered the whole of the Northern African countries, the Arabian Peninsula, the middle-east up to Iraq, as well as Sudan, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti and Comoros (which is an island group in the Indian Ocean close to Madagascar).
As I posted yesterday, the Dutch Navy helicopter crew captured by Gaddafi forces near Sirte on February 27 were released last night.
The two men and a woman were handed to Greek and Maltese officials in Tripoli late yesterday and flown to Athens on a Greek Air Force C-130 transport aircraft. They all appeared to be in good health and earlier reports had stated that they had been treated well.
They were captured while trying to evacuate two civilians by Lynx navy helicopter with no backup on board. The two civilians were later handed over to the Dutch Embassy in Tripoli and eventually made it safely out of the country while their would-be saviours ended up prisoners of Gaddafi's forces.
Libyan authorities have declared that they will retain Dutch Navy Lynx helicopter involved in the incident.
In the same interview I mentioned earlier by Seif al Islam Gaddafi, Gaddafi's militant son is reported to have commented strongly on news of any possible intervention. He said the regime would "never surrender" to the rebels.
"This is our country, we will never, ever give up and we will never, ever surrender. This is our country. We fight here in Libya, we die here in Libya," he said.
"The Libyan people, they will never, ever welcome NATO, we will never, ever welcome the Americans either."
On France's recognition of the national council set up in the east as well, Seif said:
"The French or the Europeans, they should talk to the Libyan people,"
"If they want to support the militia, do it. But I will tell you now: you are going to lose. We will win."
I have news that two Indian warships are heading towards Malta in the coming days. The two ships are the Delhi Class Destroyer "INS Mysore" and the Amphibious Transport "INS Jalashwa".
The two warships have set sail from Mumbai, India on February 27 and they are heading here as part of India's efforts to supervise and assist in the evacuation of its nationals.
A press release issued by the Indian Press Information Bureau describes the ships as having been specially equipped for the task with full medical facilities, an operating theatre, doctors and paramedics. They are also carrying helicopters and a contingent of Marine Special Forces personnel.
The Maltese Prime Minister, Dr. Gonzi has released more details regarding the visit he received by Gaddafi's envoy yesterday. In a surprise move 3 Libyan executive jets left Tripoli yesterday carrying envoys to negotiate with various countries. One headed to Malta with Libyan Under-Secretary for International Cooperation Mohammed Taher Siyala.
In a meeting held in Brussels today, Dr. Gonzi revealed that Mr. Siyala had asked for Malta's role in mediating with the EU on behalf of the Libyan government.
Mr. Gonzi explained that he made Malta's position clear to Mr. Siyala in that there was no mediation to do except for the Libyan authorities to listen to the wishes of the Libyan people. He also emphasised that the violence in Libya has to stop.
All I can say ray is prove it. Prove I have said anything untrue. So far all we've gotten from you is a lot of hot air and a sign of a delusional mind. Your rejection of these events is an insult to the people who have lost their lives...
Gaddafi's son Saif al Islam has declared in an interview that the captured Dutch crew will be released to Maltese and Greek officials in Tripoli. The crew consist of 2 men and 1 woman.
Their release comes after Dutch diplomats intervention from Malta assisted by Maltese authorities.
"We were travelling with one of the commanders who told me that all of his men were killed by pro-Gaddafi forces when they came into the town, so its pretty heavy fighting there.
A lot of them have run away, but there is a hard core of opposition fighters who are going back in to fight. There are dozens that have been killed, and many more wounded, but a lot of the bodies still remain behind in Ras Lanuf.
We actually stood on a hillock and watched the operation in progress. Pummelling by artillery, mortars, and then by the air force. And then the attack came from both the sea and the west of the town, and it was quite brutal when it came. We were told that patients in the hospital, which had already been shelled earlier, were shot. Of course there is no independent corroboration of that, but it sounded like it was pretty ugly in there."
I agree that some action IS required and sooner rather than later.
Just earlier BBC reported Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the rebel council, to have urged foreign powers to implement a no-fly zone and a no-sailing zone off the coast. Mr Abdul Jalil said they needed weapons, and called on more countries to recognise them as Libya's leaders.
The thing is I don't think that this should be a US or US-led effort but rather a United Nations intervention.
Spain's Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiminez says Spain won't follow France in officially recognising Libya's rebel Transitional National Council. "Madrid recognises states not governments," he says, and such recognition had to be agreed EU-wide.
Malta is also proving cautious - Maltese Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this afternoon that there does not appear to be a concerted EU move to grant diplomatic recognition to the rebels in Libya, thus implying that Malta would only do so if a concerted EU decision is taken in this regard.
Libyan state TV says three Dutch soldiers - who were taken captive at the end of February during a failed attempt to evacuate two civilians by navy helicopter - are to be freed.
Yes ray, you're right, this is all made up... I've seen fictional refugee ships in our harbours, I've talked to imaginary people who'd just escaped from an imaginary conflict, I've seen and photographed imaginary warships in our harbours, theres a couple of fictional escaped libyan mirage jets parked on our airfields, I have imaginary friends who were in Libya when all this started, we've had over 20,000 fictional refugees who passed through our island, some of whom who I imagined I saw in person at the airport, and theres a bunch of crazy Libyans in Malta who have imagined they got calls from their families back home telling them of unspoken horrors... Quite an achievement for the US intelligence when not even one US warship has made it here yet!
zeus911 Forum Posts (1,000)
Libya - Latest Updates Part II
Following France's declaration of acceptance of the revolutionary national committee as the legal representative of Libya, Tripoli has announced via vice foreign minister Khaled Kaaim that it will suspend all diplomatic relations with the country.