It is now official that the opposition leader and ex-justice minister, Mustafa Abdel Jalil has made a 3-point proposal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi giving him 72 hours to accept.
In the meantime Libyan state TV have made a cryptic statement that Gaddafi is no longer leading the country. BUT this does not necessarily mean he has decided to resign as in an earlier request by world powers for him to resign he had answered that he is not the Libyan leader as power in Libya is according to him in the hands of the Revolutionary Committees of the Libyan Jamahariya. At the time he had said that he cannot resign from a position he does not hold. This new statement by the Libyan state TV could very well be an effort to answer the rebel leaders ultimatum in like fashion.
See the Al Jazeera's full telephonic interview with Mustafa Abdel Jalil here:
Well at this point in time the 'national' oppostion council set up in Benghazi is the most legitimate authority in Libya (considering that the real government of Muammar Gaddafi has been described as having lost legitimacy and certainly its respect from most world nations). It seems to have the respect of the freed eastern regions and I would predict that it would most likely form an interim government where Gaddafi to fall.
The question is how the Libyans themselves feel about it. I recall seeing one woman in an interview saying that the Libyan people do not wish to see Gaddafi exiled but brought to justice on Libyan soil for the crimes he has done against his own people. So any sending him off lightly will not go down very well but I suppose in the current stalemate of a situation one starts considering any alternatives.
Oh, they won't be sending her back Colleene, the lack of Visa to exit Tunisia forced her to join the illegal immigrant boat crossing, basically risking her life and that of her daughter. Now her case will be handed over to the German Embassy in Italy.
Al Jazeera reports that the Head of opposition council, ex-justice minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil has given Gaddafi 72 hours to step down and for bombing to stop.
It is not clear what threat is implied with such an ultimatum (always if sources are correct). Perhaps tied with it is the no-pressing-of-charges deal mentioned earlier.
Gaddafi's forces launched at least four air strikes on areas in and around the oil town of Ras Lanuf in east Libya, with one striking a residential area, according to Reuters.
The air strike presumably hit a house in a residential area of Ras Lanuf. There is a big hole in the ground floor of the two-storey home, Reuters correspondent Alexander Dziadosz said, adding that it was at least the fourth strike on Ras Lanuf today.
A massive plume of smoke and dust flew up in the area from the strike, however no casualties have been reported.
According to another report from Al Jazeera, Gaddafi's forces launched a fresh artillery bombardment on Zawiyah in the west of Libya and surrounded the town.
Two members of Libya's rebel leadership from the provisional National Libyan Council are to speak before the European Parliament today, said the head of the liberal group Guy Verhofstadt.
According to unconfirmed reports, Mahmoud Jebril, 58, Libya's former planning minister and Ali-Al-Isawi, 45, former ambassador to India, have agreed to travel to Strasbourg to meet the assembly.
Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister, was able to contact the rebel leadership unlike European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
"I simply activated the liberal group's network of contacts," he told AFP.
Verhofstadt said he had contacted Ashton to invite her to meet the two members of the Libyan opposition.
More contradictions on Gaddafi's presumed exit dealings:
Mustafa Gheriani, a rebel spokesman is reported to have said that a representative of Muammar Gaddafi offered talks with the rebel National Libyan Council on the Colonel's exit but the council rejected it.
"I confirm that we received contact from a Gaddafi representative seeking to negotiate Gaddafi's exit. We rejected this. We are not negotiating with someone who spilled Libyan blood and continues to do so. Why would we trust the guy today?"
However according to another AFP report, the leadership of Libya's opposition movement say they will not pursue criminal charges against Muammar Gaddafi if he resigns and leaves the country.
Meantime the official reports from the regime deny any such offers or negotiations.
Ironically Rebel-controlled eastern Libya is at risk of running out of petrol within a week after refineries in the region halted operations, Gulf News reports.
Dwindling supplies of vehicle fuel in Benghazi and throughout eastern Libya were a rising concern for the rebel movement, the Dubai-based newspaper reported.
A spokesman for eastern Libya's rebel-controlled interim government, Tarek Bu Zaqiya, told the newspaper the region faced "severe shortages" of fuel soon.
While oil is still flowing in eastern Libya, regional refineries had cut crude processing, the report said.
More than 1,000 illegal immigrants escaping political turmoil in North Africa arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean over the last 24 hrs in over 17 different trips. Some of the boats had to be assisted by the Italian national coast guard to reach shore. Italian authorities also reported a small number of immigrants reaching Linosa, the smallest island in this southernmost group.
The Italian newspaper, "Corriere della Sera" also reports that one trip included a German woman together with her 7 year old daughter. The woman who was reportedly recently divorced from a tunisian citizen, had lacked a visa to leave the country.
Libyan foreign minister, Musa Kusa, said at a news conference in the capital Tripoli, that anti-government forces are getting help from al-Qaeda.
He also said that the regime of Muammar Gaddafi was disappointed by the actions of President Barack Obama, who "spoke like a child" when he said "we should punish those people that have sided with Muammar Gaddafi".
The foreign minister explained that Libya had felt that Obama was a democratic man and that he would extend his hand to others, especially people of the third world because he came from that world.
Libyan state television has denied a report by Al Jazeera and two Arab newspapers that Colonel Gaddafi has sought a deal with the rebels that would see him step down with certain guarentees.
Some rumours are arising about Gaddafi having made an offer to the rebel council where apparently one formula being proposed would see Gaddafi hand power to the head of parliament and leave the country with a certain guaranteed sum of money.
However a spokesman for the council told Reuters: "No such offer has been been put to the council as far as I am aware."
To be honest it does seem rather far fetched that Gaddafi would be making such an offer when the day has proven that his forces are still much in control towards the west and advancing towards Tripoli is proving tougher than envisaged.
US says it is considering whether to arm the Libyan opposition, but would be "premature" to do so now.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said US officials were seeking to learn as much as they could about Libyan opposition groups, but that offering weapons to opponents of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was only one option on the table.
Reuters reports that the Gulf states called for a no-fly zone to be imposed in Libya, and for an urgent Arab League meeting to discuss the situation in the North African country, according to a statement released by their foreign ministers.
That's nice Chris! I recall the all those kites on the "Phillopapou" hill and all the lovely traditions of the Greek Easter. I had worked in Athens for some years and I have some nice memories of your country and all your beautiful islands!!
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reiterated his position against the creation of a no-fly zone over Libya.
Lavrov described the idea of imposing limits on Libyan air space as "superfluous" and said world powers must instead focus on fully using the sanctions the UN Security Council approved over the weekend. Russia has the power to veto any UN Security Council resolution to that effect.
It is my opinion that while the idea of a no-fly zone is being put forward as a possible solution to this crisis, there is no real proof that it would in fact change the course of events. So far aircraft have proven rather ineffective in hitting on rebel forces often causing minor damage and seem more like a deterrent than anything else.
With minimal air-cover, pro-Gaddafi fighters are retaining their ground and have even managed humble successes in driving rebels back out of Bin Jawad.
More importantly, the implication of establishing such a no-fly zone carries with it pre-emptive strikes on Libya's defences, anti-aircraft missile depots and airfields. In view of fluctuating land gains by both sides and looking back at past events, mistakes will be made and attacks could very likely end up on the wrong side of the conflict. Worse still blunders which would be quickly denied officially would possibly endanger more civilian lives.
I've just returned from the harbor as I was expecting the return of the Royal Navy Frigate "HMS Cumberland" and I found it had already docked earlier in the afternoon. Presumably aboard are the British diplomat and the team of special troops detained in Benghazi due to what British authorities are describing as the result of a "serious misunderstanding".
Also in harbor was the Greek ferry "Express Santorini" which has returned to the island with more evacuees.
As of late, local media are no longer reporting movements of any naval vessels until days later so I have to rely on my own sources and intuition to keep track of what's happening.
AFP reports a Misurata Hospital Doctor declaring the result of yesterday's shelling on residential area of the city as 21 people dead, including a child, and dozens of others wounded.
In the meantime, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warns from Brussels that "Attacks against civilians in Libya may amount to 'crimes against humanity', making it diifficult for the world to stand 'idly by'".
Italy reports that it is in discreet talks with Libyan opposition:
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has been quoted as stating that Italy has begun discreet talks with the Libyan "National Council" leading the armed revolt. "We have better contacts than others in Libya", Frattini reportedly told RAI 1 television (Libya being an ex-Italian colony), possibly hinting at Britian's rather embarrasing attempt of yesterday.
Asked about a potential 'no-fly' zone, Frattini said that while military bases in the country will be made available (as long as this is based on a legitimate international decision), however so far Italian warplanes are not to participate.
In another development, the Italian naval warship "Libra" is currently in Benghazi delivering 25 tonnes of medicinals, electricity generators, water purifiers and foodstuffs to assist in the humanitarion efforts.
No Antjo, it is not undesirable to the west but to them. I have seen many reports where the revolutionary forces themselves have objected to western reportors calling them 'rebels'. A Rebel is one that goes against normality not one that demands it.
And just for the record I am not hoping that Gaddafi gets replaced with a pro-western government, I simply want our Libyan brothers to live a peaceful life in their own country with any government of their choice. A pro-western government in an Arabic country in these times does not go down well with the people so we're not seeking to add any more pro-western neighbors but rather wish that the country and the region reaches a political balance.
Reports of unprecedented full-scale attacks on Bin Jawad with tanks, artillery, military jets, and helicopters. Opposition forces, armed with light arms and some air defense weaponry, were forced to withdraw from the location. Some of them describe what happened in the city as "actual horror".
Opposition forces and civilians injured in attacks were rushed to the hospital in Ras Lanuf.
Reporters had evacuated Ras Lanuf's main hotel before dawn today after staff warned they could not guarantee their safety, and came across only a small number of visibly agitated rebels at two checkpoints en route out of the oil port to the east.
Opposition forces from Az Zintan, located 160 KM southwest of Tripoli, reportedly attacked pro-Gaddafi forces in the outskirts of the city yesterday and captured 10 of them, in addition to the leader of the pro Gaddafi brigade who is a colonel sufferring from severe wounds and currently being treated at a local hospital, Mussa Zwaeeb, an eye witnesses from Az Zintan, claims.
Well Conrad it is understandable that they do not wish to be termed as 'rebels', I for one struggled in some posts to find the right term, though 'mujahideen' does not exactly fit the situation either as that would make them fighting warriors of a 'jihad' which as you said would be a 'holy' war. But in a post-Gaddafi Libya, the religious elements especially if suppressed under the regime, will certainly try to regain their influence.
You're right Chris, it's their country and their destiny, just that being their next door neighbor we can't help worry about it.
Anyhow, are you enjoying your 'Kathara Deftera'? I have fond memories of Easter times in Athens and the flying of kites on the hill behind the Akropoli!
Yesterday I reluctantly headed to Valletta to watch the celebrations and as I settled in an outside restaurant in St.Johns Square to watch the carnival parade, I could not help peeking at my mobile to get the latest developments. Ironically as the Maltese children made merry in fancy costumes, the first news brief I came across carried a picture of 2 Libyan children holding weapons.
Looking up above the merrymaking, my eyes rested on the bronze relief face of Christ on the austere facade of St'John's and noticed the Latin inscription above which read "Salva Nos" ('Save Us'), left their by the Cathedral's original founders, the Knights of Saint John way back in 1577. Seems like things haven't changed much since then...
Yes, unfortunately that is always a possibility and Malta being a close neighbor is uneasy about such an eventuality. But following a tight dictatorship for over 40 years I would think Libyan people would be looking for more freedoms and hopefully resist extremist factions.
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.
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.
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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Libya - Latest Updates Part II
It is now official that the opposition leader and ex-justice minister, Mustafa Abdel Jalil has made a 3-point proposal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi giving him 72 hours to accept.In the meantime Libyan state TV have made a cryptic statement that Gaddafi is no longer leading the country. BUT this does not necessarily mean he has decided to resign as in an earlier request by world powers for him to resign he had answered that he is not the Libyan leader as power in Libya is according to him in the hands of the Revolutionary Committees of the Libyan Jamahariya. At the time he had said that he cannot resign from a position he does not hold. This new statement by the Libyan state TV could very well be an effort to answer the rebel leaders ultimatum in like fashion.
See the Al Jazeera's full telephonic interview with Mustafa Abdel Jalil here: