Oorlog in Libi� #97. Meer bescherming gewenst.

quote:

Op zondag 10 april 2011 23:55 schreef Chooselife het volgende:
Verbaast je dat?

Het is ongeveer een kopie van de opstand van de Mujahedin tegen de Sovjets in Afghanistan. Tot op de details dus, inclusief stiekeme wapenleveranties.

quote:

Op zondag 10 april 2011 23:55 schreef Chooselife het volgende:
Verbaast je dat?

Het is ongeveer een kopie van de opstand van de Mujahedin tegen de Sovjets in Afghanistan. Tot op de details dus, inclusief stiekeme wapenleveranties.

quote:

12:18am: Anita reminds us of the contents of the Africa Union roadmap:

1. Ceasefire & protection of civilians.

2. Humanitarian aid for Libyans & foreign workers especially Africans.

3. Dialogue between the two sides.

4. An inclusive transitional period.

5. Political reforms which meet the aspirations of the Libyan people.

quote:

South Africa Exporting Arms to Repressive Regimes: Report
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has exported millions of dollars' worth of arms to some of the world's most repressive regimes, a weekly newspaper said Sunday, citing a classified government weapons report.

Africa's largest arms exporter has sold weapons to five of the 10 least democratic states on the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index and 10 of the 25 worst performers on the Global Peace Index, which ranks nations by their peacefulness, according to The Sunday Independent.

Middle East & Africa
The paper cites Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Burundi, China, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen as countries with questionable democracy and human rights records that have received South African weapons.

quote:

Nederlandse troepen in beeld voor EU-missie naar Misrata

Nederland komt in aanmerking voor deelname aan een humanitair-militaire missie van de Europese Unie in Libi�. Morgen bespreken de Europese ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken de mogelijkheden op korte termijn voor zo’n missie in Misrata. Dat schrijven NRC-redacteuren Juurd Eijsvoogel en Mark Kranenburg vanmiddag in het Handelsblad.

De EU zal naar verwachting pas in actie komen als er een uitdrukkelijk verzoek komt van de VN. Op een militair hoofdkwartier van de EU in Rome zouden al plannen zijn opgesteld voor hulp aan burgers van die zwaar belegerde stad.

Nederland leidt interventiemacht

De uitvoering van de operatie zou gedaan moeten worden door de Europese snelle interventiemacht, die bestaat uit twee zogeheten battlegroups. Elk half jaar houden andere EU-lidstaten troepen paraat voor deze eenheden.

Hoewel Nederland nu leiding geeft aan de snelle Europese interventiemacht, moet het kabinet apart besluiten of militairen ook op missie worden gestuurd. Daarna zal ook de Tweede Kamer worden geconsulteerd, volgens dezelfde procedure als andere militaire uitzendingen.

Nog geen concreet verzoek

Een woordvoerder van de afdeling operaties van het ministerie van Defensie zegt dat nog geen concrete verzoeken zijn binnengekomen, maar dat dit parate onderdeel van de krijgsmacht altijd met alles rekening houdt.

De battlegroups werden in 2007 opgericht en leiden sindsdien een overwegend slapend bestaan. Het idee is dat de groepen binnen vijftien dagen kunnen worden uitgezonden. Een eenheid moet in staat zijn 30 tot 120 dagen zelfstandig te opereren.

quote:

Overgangsraad Libische oppositie wil niets weten van vredesvoorstel

De nationale overgangsraad van de Libische oppositie wijst een vredesvoorstel van de Afrikaanse Unie af. Deze riep op tot een onmiddellijke wapenstilstand. Maar de oppositie zegt dat het voorstel niet voorziet in haar blijvende eis: het vertrek van Moammar Gaddafi en zijn bondgenoten.

De Libische leider aanvaardde het vredesvoorstel eerder wel. De voorzitter van de overgangsraad, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, zei echter dat het initiatief “de verlangens van de Libische bevolking niet vervult” omdat er niet gesproken wordt over het vertrek van Gaddafi of zijn machtige zoons. “Er worden alleen maar politieke hervormingen worden beloofd. Wij onderhandelen niet met het bloed van onze martelaren.”

De oppositie kan rekenen op de steun van de Italiaanse minister van buitenlandse zaken Franco Frattini. Die zei vandaag in Londen dat Gaddafi wel m�et vertrekken omdat zijn misdaden uit het verleden het hoogst onwaarschijnlijk maken dat hij een staakt-het-vuren zal respecteren.

Volgens Frattini is Libi� alleen gebaat bij een vertrek van de Libische leider. Itali� heeft daarom besloten zich nadrukkelijker achter de Libische overgangsraad te scharen, zei de minister. Abdel Jalil reist vrijdag naar Rome waar hij gesprekken zal voeren met de president en de premier van Itali�. Sommigen vermoeden dat het accepteren van een staakt-het-vuren door Gadhafi slechts bedoeld is om tijd te winnen en het leger te reorganiseren en herbewapenen.

quote:

Op maandag 11 april 2011 18:48 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 02:44 schreef svann het volgende:
Tripolitanian
2 all sensitive Western media networks, don't be intimidated by Libyan rebs w beards, they say they will shave them off when Gaddafi leaves
^{35 minutes ago via web}

quote:

Op maandag 11 april 2011 16:41 schreef houda het volgende:
hallo allemaal,

Eindelijk kan ik weer op internet. Ergens in deeltje 41 kon ik niet meer op internet. Het is heel heftig geweest een paar dagen lang toen Khadaffi's troepen in Benghazi waren! Pfff wat waren wij bang. Op een dag sochtends om half 6 2 keiharde knallen.
Ik trok mijn kind uit bed en rende naar mijn man toe. (sliep in een andere kamer om het huis te bewaken tegen troepen en snipers die ons huis wilden hebben).
Het bleek dat een paar deuren verder een bom was gevallen op onze buren .
Het was echt vreselijk. Er zoijn veel dingen gebeurd maar na een paar dagen begonnen de Fransen te schieten. Daar zijn we heel dankbaar voor want we hebben de troepebn gezien die naar Benghazi onderweg waren en er al waren. We hebben een filmpje te pakken gekregen van een pro khadaffi man en die filmde met zijn telefoon een hele stoet met auto's tanks enz. En terwijl hij dat filmden waren andere troepen al in Benghazi, dus dan kan je je voorstellen hoe lang die stoet was!!

Het leek wel of ze een heel land gingen veroveren. En de order van /khadaffi was dan ook heel Benghazi plat te maken, alle mannen te vermoorden en met de vrouwen en kinderen doen wat je wilt!!!!!

Maar goed dat is gelukkig niet gebeurd. Internet lag plat en tja de rest van het verhaal is wel bekend zoals ik hier kan lezen zijn jullie zeer goed op de hoogte!

We zijn sinds gisteren naar Egypte gegaan met een paar familieleden. We hebben hier nu een appartementje gehuurd en gaan pas terug als hij weg is. Het ios voor kinderen zeer traumatisch allemaal en ze hebben veel nacht,merries. Vandaag lekker naar de zee geweest en eindelijk weer een keertje naar buiten met mijn zoopmntje zonder angst of knallen, bommen of wat dan ook.

Wel zag ik op het nieuws dat ze gisteren in Ajdabia waren, maar nu niet meer...
Pfff hoe lang gaat dit nog duren???? Hoop dat hij snel weg gaat met zijn familie!!

Ik wilde dit toch eventjes laten weten hier omdat ik zo opeens niks meer kon posten!!!

Groetjes Houda

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 02:44 schreef svann het volgende:
Tripolitanian
2 all sensitive Western media networks, don't be intimidated by Libyan rebs w beards, they say they will shave them off when Gaddafi leaves
^{35 minutes ago via web}

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 10:20 schreef HiZ het volgende:

[..]

Grappig, dit sluit een beetje aan bij wat ik net zat te denken. Een reportage over 'de jongens van Bengazi'. En dan zie je een afscheidsscene waarin volgens de vertaler twee keer God's naam wordt aangehaald. Dat klinkt zwaar religieus allemaal voor de argeloze kijker. Maar als je dan weet dat het gebruikte woord 'insallah' vaak meer de lading heeft van ' ik hoop' of 'ik wens' dan wordt het beeld veel minder eng religieus.

quote:

Libya: Nato is 'not doing enough', say France and UK_{12 April 2011 Last updated at 09:42 GMT}

Nato is not doing enough to destroy heavy weaponry used by Muammar Gaddafi's forces in Libya, the French and British foreign ministers say.

Libyan civilians remain at risk, France's Alain Juppe said, despite the ongoing Nato-led bombing campaign.

The UK's William Hague urged Nato allies to intensify military operations against the Libyan regime and called on Col Gaddafi to step down.

Libyan rebels opposing Col Gaddafi have been pushed back despite the air raids.

"Nato must play its role fully. It wanted to take the lead in operations," Mr Juppe said, calling efforts so far "not enough".

Mr Hague later echoed Mr Juppe's comments, saying: "We must maintain and intensify our efforts in Nato.

"That is why the United Kingdom has in the last weeks supplied additional aircraft capable of striking ground targets threatening the civilian population... Of course it would be welcome if other countries also did the same," he said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

The US and other Western allies began air strikes on 19 March after UN Security Council Resolution 1973 authorised "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from Col Gaddafi's forces.

After initial sorties were flown under US command, Nato has since taken over responsibility for the campaign from Washington.

Despite this, heavy weapons are still being used to bombard the rebel-held western Libyan city of Misrata, reports say.

Libyan government forces began a renewed attack on Misrata on Monday, hours after news emerged of an African Union ceasefire plan.

There are grave concerns for the humanitarian situation in Misrata and for the safety of civilians still inside the city.

"It [Nato] must play its role today which means preventing Gaddafi from using heavy weapons to shell [civilian] populations," Alain Juppe said on Tuesday.

Ceasefire plea

Mr Juppe and Mr Hague's remarks came after the African Union (AU) proposed a ceasefire plan that was rejected by rebel leaders in Benghazi.

The plan included a call for an immediate end to hostilities, unhindered humanitarian aid, protection of foreign nationals, dialogue between opposing sides and an end to Nato air strikes.

The AU said Col Gaddafi has accepted the plan, but the rebels said it was unfeasible as it did not include a provision for the Libyan leader to step down.

On Tuesday the AU urged the rebels to reconsider, blaming the Transitional National Council (TNC) - in effect the rebels' parallel government in Benghazi - for imposing preconditions.

The AU "makes an urgent call on the TNC to fully co-operate, for the sake of Libya's higher interests, and assist in the quest for and implementation of a fair and lasting political solution", AFP news agency reported.

In clashes reported on Tuesday, rebels near the town of Ajdabiya said three of their fighters were killed overnight amid battles with pro-Gaddafi forces, Reuters news agency reported.

'Failed state' warning

Moussa Koussa - a former head of Libyan intelligence - said he could not continue in Libya's government

In the UK, Former Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa has warned against the risks of civil war and the possibility of his country becoming "a new Somalia".

Mr Koussa, the highest-profile figure to defect from Col Gaddafi's Libya, told the BBC in a prepared statement that the unity of Libya was essential to any settlement.

"I ask everybody to avoid taking Libya into civil war," Mr Koussa said. "This would lead to so much blood and Libya would be a new Somalia."

"More than that, we refuse to divide Libya. The unity of Libya is essential to any solution and settlement for Libya."

In his statement on Monday he said he had been "devoted" to his work for 30 years under Col Gaddafi, and was confident that it was serving the Libyan people.

However, he said, after recent events "things changed and I couldn't continue".

"I know that what I did to resign will cause me problems, but I'm ready to make that sacrifice for the sake of my country," he said.

He added that the solution in Libya would come from the Libyans themselves, through discussion and democratic dialogue.

Libya's Minister for Social Affairs, Ibrahim Zarouk al-Sharif, said he could not comment on Mr Koussa's statement while the former foreign minister was "captured" in a hostile country.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 12:11 schreef doeterniettoezegiktoch het volgende:

[..]

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 12:22 schreef Renaldo het volgende:
Iemand enig idee hoe het misrata ervoor staat? hoelang gaat het verzet nog standhouden tegen de troepen van ghaddafi?

quote:

Libyan rebels trapped inside besieged city of Misurata
_{Ben Knight reported this story on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 18:28:00}

MARK COLVIN: The African Union's plan to halt Libya's civil war has collapsed. The rebels say any talk of a ceasefire is meaningless as Gaddafi troops continue their bloody siege of the city of Misurata.

Meanwhile, France's foreign minister Alain Juppe has criticised NATO for not doing enough to protect civilians in Libya. He says the alliance should focus on destroying more heavy weapons around the besieged city.

Our Middle East correspondent Ben Knight's been watching developments and joins me on the line.

Ben, there are different claims and counterclaims about Misurata. What do you think is going on there?

BEN KNIGHT: Well the same thing, Mark, that's been going on there for a matter of weeks, which is that you have rebels who are inside the city who are trying to hold onto what is the last rebel-held city in the west of the country and you have Gaddafi forces who are trying to capture it.

Now, every now and then we get some kind of eyewitness report of what's going on and on very rare occasions western and, or foreign journalists, have actually been allowed into the city to see for themselves what's going on.

What's very clear is that there is consistently fighting going on, often heavy fighting, often shelling. Consistently there are reports coming out of Misurata's hospitals and other areas that people are being killed and in fact UNICEF are now saying that in the past few weeks it's increasingly children who are being killed by shrapnel and other munitions.

I think what has surprised me is that the rebels have managed to hold on so long because although NATO have been there launching strikes to try and protect places exactly like Misurata and have been hitting some of the artillery and other hardware, it's in an urban environment and it's a difficult operation to undertake without hitting civilians which is of course something that NATO doesn't want to do.

But the rebels have held on. I think they're still saying that they control the port which is the only way that things are getting in and out of that city but they're surrounded on all other sides and the battle goes on.

MARK COLVIN: The Americans have those A-10 warthogs, so called tank killing aircraft, and they also have an absolutely lethal craft called an AC-130 which is a side-firing aircraft. It goes quite slowly but it fires machine guns at very, very rapid rate.

These things were supposed to be the thing that sort of tilted the balance, if you like. Are the Americans not really in there? Are they leaving it to the British and French?

BEN KNIGHT: I couldn't talk to you about that but what I can say is that I get the sense that there is an enormous disappointment that the rebels themselves have not been able to pick up the proverbial ball and run with it.

There was an expectation, I think, that once American or NATO forces went in there and started bombing the Gaddafi tanks that the rebels would then be able to take it for themselves; that you know that would tip the balance in their favour and it would all be over. And clearly that hasn't happened.

There's been a massive overestimation of the abilities of the rebel force and now day after day, week after week, we're seeing that they really have failed to get themselves organised or strategised in any meaningful way and that this is not going to be won on the battlefield.

MARK COLVIN: Which to get to Misurata they were going to have to go through Sirte, weren't they? I mean Misurata is actually not that far from Tripoli, so in a way it's even more surprising that the Gaddafi forces hadn't been able to take it.

BEN KNIGHT: But both sides have been unable to progress any further. I mean what we've seen over the past few days is that the Gaddafi forces have become a lot more like a modern professional army, well at least to the extent that they're using basic military tactics which just weren't in evidence in the early part of this fighting. The rebels aren't even close to doing that and of course they're still underpowered.

But as far as the Americans putting their hardware into this conflict, you'd see in the United States at the moment that president Obama is starting to come under real pressure, real scrutiny over having got himself into what is essentially a third war involving United States forces in a Muslim country.

MARK COLVIN: And one which doesn't seem to be coming to an end. Indeed, Ben Knight thank you very much indeed.

Ben Knight, our Middle-East correspondent.

quote:

Mogelijk Nederlandse troepen naar Misurata
_{Uitgegeven: 11 april 2011 18:59
Laatst gewijzigd: 11 april 2011 21:31}

AMSTERDAM - Mogelijk gaat Nederland deelnemen aan een humanitair-militaire missie in Libi�. Dat schrijft NRC Handelsblad maandag.
� AFP

Een woordvoerder van het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken laat weten dat dit nog niet aan de orde is, omdat er nog geen verzoek ligt van de Verenigde Naties.

Als de VN de Europese Unie verzoekt om burgers in de zwaar belegerde stad in het westen van Libi� te hulp te schieten, dan zou dit gedaan moeten worden door de Europese snelle interventiemacht.

Nederland geeft de eerste helft van dit jaar leiding aan een van de twee battlegroups waaruit die interventiemacht bestaat. Zo'n 1200 Nederlandse militairen zijn beschikbaar.

Ministers
De Europese ministers van buitenlandse zaken vergaderen dinsdag in Luxemburg over de missie in Libi�.

Een humanitair-militaire missie houdt niet in dat grondtroepen zich in het conflict gaan mengen. Wel moet het kabinet voordat Nederland kan meedoen een zogeheten artikel 100-brief naar de Kamer sturen.

Kaddafi
Troepen van Muammar Kaddafi hebben maandag met zware artillerie woonwijken in het centrum van Misurata onder vuur genomen.

Dit berichtten ooggetuigen uit de belegerde stad, 200 kilometer ten oosten van de hoofdstad Tripoli. Het regime heeft ondertussen gewaarschuwd dat er verzet zal worden geboden tegen buitenlands ingrijpen.

Opstand
Half februari is in het noordoosten een opstand uitgebroken tegen het bewind van 'Gids van de Revolutie' Kaddafi, die sinds 1969 regeert. De opstand in de regio Cyrenaica breidde zich uit naar het westen van het land.

Het regime herstelde zich in maart en vecht zich een weg terug naar het oosten. Misurata is een belegerde havenstad in de noordwestelijke regio Tripolitania.

De Libische tv meldde maandagavond westerse luchtaanvallen op de oasis al-Jufrah, 475 kilometer ten zuidoosten van Tripoli.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 12:50 schreef Hans_van_Baalen het volgende:

[..]

Denk dat het ook te maken heeft met bar slechte onderlinge communicatie NATO <-> oppositie. Blijkt maar weer toen ze die rebellentank kapotschoten, en door dat rebellen niet weten dat het onverstandig is om met luchtafweer vreugdeschoten te lossen

quote:

(AJE) 1:44pm

Al Jazeera's Hoda Abdel Hamid with the latest on the battle for Misurata:

Misurata civilians under siege

quote:

(AJE)
1:25pm
Rebels are defending the western gates of Ajdabiya as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi continue to attack their positions.

Explosions could be seen less than 1.5km from the western gates as Gadhafi's forces shelled rebel lines. Rebels believe Gadhafi's forces could attack the western entrance to Ajdabiya from Brega, currently in government hands.

2:02pm
Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi bombarded the western entrance to the rebel-held town of Ajdabiyah in eastern Libya, a Reuters witness reported. The witness reported about eight blasts, apparently from artillery, around the western entrance. Ajdabiyah, which sits on a junction of routes that lead into the rebel-held east, has been a focus of fierce battles in the past two months

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 15:15 schreef svann het volgende:

[..]

Deze website geeft de beste informatie over Misrata en andere bedreigde steden in west Libi�.
Overall trouwens erg goed ge�nformeerd.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 13:02 schreef doeterniettoezegiktoch het volgende:

[..]

sorry krijg nergens iets gevonden over hoe het nu in Misrata eraan toe gaat , las wel dat gisteren Gadaffi weer flink heeft lopen bombarderen daar .. ( http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/(...)ijken-Misurata.dhtml )

verder kom ik alleen ff dit tegen

[..]

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 12:18 schreef doeterniettoezegiktoch het volgende:
Libya crisis mapped 11 april

[ afbeelding ]

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 15:15 schreef svann het volgende:

[..]

Deze website geeft de beste informatie over Misrata en andere bedreigde steden in west Libi�.
Overall trouwens erg goed ge�nformeerd.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 17:56 schreef Renaldo het volgende:

[..]

thanks, staat in de favorieten. Mainstream media bericht steeds minder en minder terwijl het een full on burgeroorlog is. Dit topic levert meer info, bedankt iedereen die hier aan bij draagt.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 15:12 schreef doeterniettoezegiktoch het volgende:
en Ajdabiya ;

[..]

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 11:20 schreef Hans_van_Baalen het volgende:
Is er al duidelijkheid over inzet van grondtroepen

en in hemelsnaam, waarom

De NAVO zijn pussies die niet op zogenaamde burgers durven te schieten; burgers die zich willens en wetens aan kant scharen van de gewapende onderdrukkers. Per direct afknallen zeg ik je, zolang G's mensen, de zogenaamde burgers, in een cordon om een tank of artilleriestelling gaan staan om die te beschermen. Die mensen moet je sowieso uitroeien, inclusief de hele familie van G, wil je de steun aan zo'n regime breken en in de toekomst onmogelijk maken om terug te keren.

quote:

AJE 6:05pm

More on that last line: Ali Al Isawi, of Libya's National Transitional Council, tells reporters at an EU meeting in Luxembourg:

We have now about 10,000 killed by Gaddafi soldiers, we have about 20,000 persons missing and about 30,000 injured - 7,000 of them seriously injured with their lives endangered.

We want more efforts regarding protection of civilians against this aggression.

quote:

5:35pm

Moussa Koussa, Gaddafi's former foreign minister and spy chief, is on his way to Qatar to meet officials from the Libyan Transitional National Council ahead of an international summit in Doha tomorrow.

He is not expected to participate in the meeting of the Libyan Contact Group, but will hol meetings on the sidelines, it is understood.

gepikt van

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 18:42 schreef Monidique het volgende:

[..]

.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 12:50 schreef Hans_van_Baalen het volgende:

[..]

Denk dat het ook te maken heeft met bar slechte onderlinge communicatie NATO <-> oppositie. Blijkt maar weer toen ze die rebellentank kapotschoten, en door dat rebellen niet weten dat het onverstandig is om met luchtafweer vreugdeschoten te lossen

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 20:05 schreef houda het volgende:

[..]

Sorry hier moet ik even op reageren. Het klopt dat ze vaak kogels verspillen door uit vreugde te schieten (irriteer ik me mateloos aan) maar deze keer was het anders.
Er zat een undercover pro Khadaffi tussen de rebellen die met dit wapen schoot en snel wegrenden naar de kant van Khadaffi. Ook heeft hij een speciaal soort wapen in de lucht geschoten zodat de pro's precies wisten waar hij zat. Ook heeft hij autobanden in brand gestoken om diezelfde reden....

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 20:05 schreef houda het volgende:

[..]

Sorry hier moet ik even op reageren. Het klopt dat ze vaak kogels verspillen door uit vreugde te schieten (irriteer ik me mateloos aan) maar deze keer was het anders.
Er zat een undercover pro Khadaffi tussen de rebellen die met dit wapen schoot en snel wegrenden naar de kant van Khadaffi. Ook heeft hij een speciaal soort wapen in de lucht geschoten zodat de pro's precies wisten waar hij zat. Ook heeft hij autobanden in brand gestoken om diezelfde reden....

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 20:49 schreef houda het volgende:
Ja maar denk dat dit niet echt het nieuws in komt dan waarschijnlijjk....

We hebvben trouwens besloten dat mijn zoontje en ik as donderdag terug naar nederland vliegen
mijn man gaat terug naar libie om de boel te bewaken daar...

Ik heb een retourticket voor een jaar dus heb even de tijd haha

quote:

Telegraph - By Ben Farmer, Misurata 9:00PM BST 12 Apr 2011
Tripoli Street was two months ago the bustling heart of Misurata and now is only a wasteland of blasted buildings, snipers and death.
To venture where shoppers once browsed is to invite a sudden bullet from one of the Gaddafi regime marksmen crouched in office blocks along the road.

The only cars on the main artery through Libya's third biggest city are burned and twisted, while the shops are sprayed with shrapnel and gutted by fire.

This is what Col Muammar Gaddafi meant when he gave a speech at the start of the uprising threatening to root out his opponents "alleyway by alleyway, room by room".

Except, after 50 days of defiance, on Tripoli Street the tables have turned.

Emboldened by Nato air strikes, the rebels have made progress clearing regime soldiers and mercenaries from Misurata's two-mile-long main thoroughfare. Verder.

quote:

Bron: ap, dpa/afp - Auteur: edm
De troepen van de Libische leider Moammar Kadhafi hebben dinsdag opnieuw de westelijke stad Misrata onder vuur genomen. Misrata is de enige stad in het westen van Libi� die nog deels in handen is van de rebellen.

De aanvallen op Misrata houden nu al weken aan en hebben hun tol ge�ist onder de bevolking. Tientallen mensen zijn gedood, de overige bewoners zijn doodsbang en er is een tekort aan voedsel en medicijnen.

'Met het bereik van de oorlogsmachines van Kadhafi is geen enkele plek in Misrata veilig', zei een gezondheidswerker in Misrata. Volgens hem zijn maandag zes mensen gedood. Vandaag viel nog een dodelijk slachtoffer. Volgens internationale organisaties wordt een humanitaire ramp verwacht in Misrata.

Ook de door de rebellen gecontroleerde stad Ajdabiyah is vandaag weer door raketten van het Libische leger getroffen. Vanaf Ajdabiyah ligt de weg open naar de oostelijke stad Benghazi, het hoofdkwartier van de Libische oppositie. Verder.

معجزة الله في ليبيا

quote:

There are two main characters: The first is unnamed (but his image would evolve into Knox from Fox in Socks), the second is named Sam. Throughout the book, Sam tries to encourage the first unnamed character to try green eggs and ham, though he meets with little success. The unnamed character refuses to taste the dish, insisting that he would not like it. Sam then goes through an assortment of locations (house, car, tree, train, box, boat) and dining partners (fox, goat, mouse) trying to persuade the unnamed character to eat. The conclusion of the tale occurs when the unnamed character, standing in shallow water after a boat sinks, surrounded by various people and beasts, finally gives in and tries the green eggs and ham on the condition that Sam leaves him alone.

quote:

Op woensdag 13 april 2011 00:05 schreef Ulpianus het volgende:

معجزة الله في ليبيا

Libische staatsTV laat een groen ei zien, wat een teken moet zijn van overwinning.

Bij mij komt Dr Streuss naar boven, Green eggs & Ham:

[..]

^100

British Civilians For Peace entering Libya

quote:

British Civilians for Peace update #2, Mon April 11 2011

British Peace Mission Arrives in Libya; Met By Angry and then Welcoming Refugees in Libya

The Civilians for Peace delegation arrived in Tripoli late last night after crossing the Tunisian land border of Ras Ejder.

There was a moment of panic when the delegations vehicles were attacked with bricks and clubs by a mob of refugee migrant workers who had fled Libya during the fighting and have been temporarily housed in swarming tent villages just inside the Tunisian border. The vehicles retreated to the safety of Tunisian military positions until the migrant workers could be notified that the vehicles contained delegates of a humanitarian mission for peace, whereupon the displaced workers welcomed and actively encouraged the mission on it's way.

The thousands of migrant workers now living in these squalid, makeshift camps are the residual victims in this conflict. Refugees of a war that is not their own, they now find themselves neglected by their countries of origin and pariahs in the desert of no mans land.

As the mission raced to Tripoli it passed through towns such as Zawara and Zawia where the buildings bore the brutal scars of war, shops reduced to rubble and residential buildings sprayed with the familiar polker dot calling card of automatic gunfire. After passing checkpoint after checkpoint manned by heavily armed soldiers the delegation finally made it to Tripoli at just after Midnight.

The African Union mediators, headed by South African President Jacob Zuma, are also in the capital. There seems to be no NATO air strikes during the African Union's mission.

quote:

Op woensdag 13 april 2011 00:30 schreef svann het volgende:
Dus als het eiwit van een gekookt ei vlekkerig groen uitslaat heb je geluk?
Uhmm...

 

En wat moeten british civilians in Tripoli? Merkwaardig.
Kunnen die daar als informeel initiatief wat uitrichten of ondermijnen ze de offici�le onderhandelingen?

quote:

Gizmodo - Brian Lam - Apr 13, 2011 3:00 AM
When Colonel Gadhafi seized control of the internet and jammed cellular networks, it left 2 million Libyans without secure wireless communication to each other or the world. It also caused mayhem for the rebels, who were left coordinating their battle fronts with only hand signals, "a throw-back that proved disastrous," says the WSJ.

Then, Ousama Abushagur, a Libyan telecom executive with American roots, came up with a plan to take back control of the airwaves by "hiving off" part of the network, around the central control in Tripoli, where Gadhafi and his intelligence officers could easily control and eavesdrop any calls.

Abushagur's plan was not simple. For starters it required millions of dollars in equipment, which he managed to acquire with the help of the U.A.E and Qatar. It also needed to move that equipment into Libya, along with seven engineers and body guards. After "fusing" the new equipment into the network, they routed calls through a satellite uplink provided by Etisalat, a U.A.E carrier.

A test call, placed by Abushagur to his wife, happened on April 2nd. Since then, the network, which they've named "Free Libyana" has been connecting the rebels and Libyans to each other and the world. [WSJ]

quote:

news24.com - 2011-04-12
London - Captured rebel Libyan fighters have been found shot in the head with their hands tied behind their backs, Amnesty International said on Tuesday, adding it had strong evidence of other human rights abuses.

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had also deliberately killed unarmed protesters and attacked civilians fleeing fighting, Amnesty said, citing evidence gathered by its delegates in eastern Libya over the past six weeks.

The rights group said Gaddafi's troops appeared to have executed captured rebel fighters close to the town of Ajdabiyah.

Its researchers in eastern Libya had in recent days seen the bodies of two opposition fighters who had been shot in the back of the head after their hands had been bound behind their backs.

Amnesty said it had received credible reports of four similar cases, where bodies of captured fighters were reportedly found with their hands tied behind their backs and multiple gunshot wounds to the upper parts of their bodies.

"The circumstances of these killings strongly suggest that they were carried out by the forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi," said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's director for the Middle East and North Africa.

"The deliberate killing of captured fighters is a war crime. All those responsible for such crimes - those who ordered or sanctioned them as well as those who carried them out - must be left in no doubt that they will be held fully accountable."

Libya has plunged into civil war, with Gaddafi controlling the capital Tripoli and rebels seeking to end his 41 years in power running the eastern city of Benghazi. Nato airstrikes aimed at protecting civilians have failed to end a stalemate.

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Op woensdag 13 april 2011 13:10 schreef MangoTree het volgende:
Hier het originele verhaal over het telefoonnetwerk (Wall Street Journal)

Rebels Hijack Gadhafi's Phone Network
^{A Group of Expatriate Executives and Engineers Furtively Restore Telecommunications for the Libyan Opposition}

[ afbeelding ]

quote:

Op woensdag 13 april 2011 12:00 schreef MangoTree het volgende:

John Irvine Misrata

^{ITN Correspondent John Irvine and Cameraman Sean Swan in Misrata, 12 April 2011}

Aangrijpend verslag

quote:

http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/(...)-libie-blijft-nodig/

De coalitielanden moeten Gaddafi onder sterke militaire druk blijven zetten om hem tot aftreden te bewegen. Dat zei de Franse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Alain Juppe vanmiddag na overleg met zijn collega’s in Qatar.

Juppe stelde in hoofdstad Doha dat het doel van de militaire operaties in Libi� zeer duidelijk is. “Gaddafi moet opstappen, maar we hebben een politieke oplossing nodig”, aldus de minister. Hij zei dat de coalitielanden nog in gesprek zijn over de vraag of het opstappen van Gaddafi een voorwaarde moet zijn voor onderhandelingen tussen hem en de opstandelingen.

De ministers van Buitenlandse Zaken van de coalitielanden gaven eerder vanmiddag al een gezamenlijke verklaring uit waarin zij zeggen de opstandelingen financieel te willen steunen.
De opstandelingen, ook vertegenwoordigd op de top in Doha, vroegen de Verenigde Staten op hun beurt om weer een grotere militaire rol in Libi� op zich te nemen. “Toen de Amerikanen meer betrokken waren was de missie meer in beweging en werden burgers beter beschermd”, aldus opstandelingenwoordvoerder Mahmoud Shamman.

De opstandelingen vroegen de NAVO vanmiddag het aantal luchtaanvallen op troepen en doelen van Gaddafi te intensiveren. Shamman stelde dat de militaire organisatie nu “zeer traag” op Gaddafi’s aanvallen op burgers reageert. De sjeik van Qatar, gastheer van de top in Doha, leek te sympathiseren met de wens van de opstandelingen. “Het is tijd om het Libische volk te verdedigen en ze in staat te stellen zichzelf te verdedigen”, aldus Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

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Op woensdag 13 april 2011 17:02 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Dat zijn journalisten.

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_{irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 18:02}
Libyan rebels urge US to reassert role in Nato action
Libya's rebels have urged the US military to reassert a stronger role in the Nato-led air campaign against Muammar Gadafy's regime.

The call came after Britain and France pressured other Nato members to contribute militarily to the organisation's operation in Libya.

Qatar's crown prince told international envoys at the "contact group" meeting in Doha it was time to help the uprising tip the scales in favour of the rebels.

The appeals reflected the urgent tone of the meetings among the UN secretary general and other top Western and Arab envoys as they gathered in Qatar's capital to discuss ways to end the Libyan crisis.

While peace efforts remain the top objective, there also appears to be a shift toward trying to boost the rebels' firepower to protect their territory from government offensives. One proposal noted by Italy - Libya's former colonial ruler - calls for allies to provide defensive weapons.

There is a divergence of opinions among the 28 members of the Nato alliance. Germany, Turkey and Poland opposed the operation in Libya and are not involved in the air campaign.

Italy has said its aircraft will not open fire, the Dutch are enforcing the no-fly zone but may not bomb ground targets, and non-Nato Swedish planes may only open fire in self-defence while patrolling the no-fly zone.

Qatar's crown prince said it was a "race against time" to give Col Gadafy's outgunned opponents the tools to fight.

"It is time to help the Libyan people defend themselves, and to defend the Libyan people," said Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose nation is one of the few Arab states contributing to the Nato-led air campaign in Libya and helped the rebels sell oil under their control. "And what are the rebels except civilians who have taken up arms to defend themselves in a difficult situation and (who fight) an uneven battle?"

Rebel spokesman Mahmoud Shamman said the anti-Gadafy forces will not bend on their demands that any peace proposal require the Libyan leader Col Gadafy and his inner circle to leave the country. The rebel conditions for Col Gadafy's removal effectively killed a ceasefire bid by the African Union this week.

Mr Shammam also urged Nato to step up its air campaign to hit pro-Gadafy forces in efforts to protect civilians and appealed for a greater role by the United States, which turned over operations to Nato last month. "When the Americans were involved the mission was very active and it was more leaning toward protecting the civilians," he said. "Nato is very slow responding to these attacks on the civilians. We'd like to see more work toward protecting the civilians,"

His comments echoed calls by French foreign minister Alain Juppe and others after government forces shelled the rebel-held city of Misrata in western Libya.

The one-day conference that includes Britain's foreign secretary William Hague, US State Department envoy William J Burns and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

It also was expected to be the first high-profile forum for Col Gadafy's former foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, who defected to Britain last month. But Mr Koussa was absent from the main discussions and rebel officials insisted he has no role in their movement.

Qatar is one of the few Arab countries providing warplanes to the Nato air campaign and has helped Libyan rebels sell oil to buy weapons and supplies.

An Italian foreign ministry spokesman said allies may consider providing "defensive weapons" and equipment to rebels. "The discussion of arms is certainly on the table," he said. "We are not talking about offensive arms ... Every country will decide. It is a political decision."

This afternoon, Nato said it hit munitions bunkers in an airstrike just outside the capital Tripoli. Nato said it conducted airstrikes yesterday on an ammunition depot in Sirte on Libya's central coast and destroyed 12 tanks near the western town of Zintan, about 120 kmsouthwest of Tripoli.

Libyan opposition spokesman Ali al-Issawi said that Col Gadafy's soldiers have killed about 10,000 people throughout the country and injured 30,000 others, with 7,000 of the injured facing life-threatening wounds.

He said an additional 20,000 people were missing and suspected of being in Col Gadafy's prisons.

There was no way to independently verify his claims, and the numbers are far higher than rights groups and foreign diplomats have estimated.

Qatar, meanwhile, is helping with a vital fuel link for the rebels. Qatar said it oversaw last week's sale of more than $100 million in crude oil from rebel-held areas, and has delivered four shipments of fuel to Benghazi.

Talks on Libya shift to Cairo tomorrow at the Arab League headquarters.

Mr Ban is expected to join others, including Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, African Union commission chairman Jean Ping and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton. They are expected to discuss a Turkish peace initiative.

quote:

AJE 6:15pm

So, a quick update on what happened in today's Libya Contact Group meeting in Doha.

Here are the highlights of the final communique:

Particpants agreed:

- A political solution is the only way to bring lasting peace to Libya and reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, indpendence, territorial integrity and national unity of libya

- United in believing that Gaddafi's continued presence would treaten any resolution of the crisis

- Participants agreed the need to monitor any potential threat from "extremist elements" who could seek to take advantage of the situation in Libya

- Participants noted that gaddafi's regime was weakening as his followers left him

- Participants support eforts of the UN to help the Libyan people develop a political transition plan, consitutional and electoral processes.

- Participants agreed to continue to provide support to the opposition including material support and humanitarian aid.

- Participants agree that a temporary financial mechanism could provide method for the inc and intl community to manage revenue to assist with the short term financial requirement and structural need in libya

- Participants said approx 3.6million people could need humanitarian assistance.

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Op woensdag 13 april 2011 19:15 schreef MangoTree het volgende:

[..]

Die kinderen bedoel ik natuurlijk.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Op woensdag 13 april 2011 17:02 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Dat zijn journalisten.

quote:

Great Manmade River
Searching for oil beneath the sand the Libyans have instead discovered in 1953 huge fresh water reserves in various parts of the country, some of which are just 100 meters below the surface. The largest being the Kufra Basin, which has an estimated groundwater storage capacity of 20,000 cubic kilometres

There are a total of 4071 kilometres of pipelines in the project:

* 1600km of pipelines in Sarir/Sirt - Tazerbo-Benghazi system
* 1277km of pipelines in Hasouna-Jeffara system
* 190km of pipelines in Assdada-Ajdabiya system
* 383km of pipelines in Tazerbo-kufra system
* 621km of pipelines in Ghdames-Zuwarah system.

quote:

Vrijdag, 25 maart 2011
Het Great Man-made River Project (GMRP) in Libi� is het grootste ondergrondse netwerk van pijpleidingen en aquaducten ter wereld. Het bestaat uit 1.300 waterputten waarvan de meeste meer dan 500 meter diep zijn en voorziet onder andere de steden Tripoli, Benghazi en Sirt elke dag van vers water.

Muammar al-Gaddafi heeft het ooit omschreven als het achtste wereldwonder.

Het water bevindt zich al meer dan 40.000 jaar in een waterhoudende laag onder het zand. De mensen noemen het fossiel water.

De enorme waterreserves van Libi� zijn voor de meeste mensen in het Westen vrijwel onbekend. Intervenieert het Westen in Libi� voor olie? Wellicht. Maar de watervoorraad is veel zeldzamer en waardevoller. Verder.

quote:

Libyan rebels receive boost of support from international community

Arab world and western ministers issued unanimous call for Gaddafi to step down, saying regime had 'lost all legitimacy'

Muammar Gaddafi's regime has "lost all legitimacy" and he must leave power to allow the Libyan people to determine their own future, the international community warned as it boosted support for opposition forces.

After three weeks of Nato-led air strikes, Arab and western ministers meeting in Qatar closed ranks to issue a first unanimous call for Gaddafi to step down, boasting that they were "united and firm in their resolve" about the outcome of the crisis – or, at least, more than they were at the London conference late last month.

But new signs emerged of disagreements over whether UN resolutions allowed the delivery of weapons to the Libyan rebels, with Qatar pushing hard on this highly sensitive issue.

William Hague, the foreign secretary, and Qatar's prime minister, Hamad bin Jassim, chaired a first session of the Libya "contact group" – comprising an unwieldy 21 countries and six international organisations – to explore ways out of the impasse between regime and opposition.

Britain's latest decision – to supply non-lethal body armour to the rebels – was due to be announced by David Cameron before a meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris. Under the plan 1,000 flak jackets from Ministry of Defence stores will be sent to opposition forces.

Hague, however, sounded ambiguous about whether weapons could legally be supplied. "We understand the resolutions to mean that the arms embargo applies to the whole of Libya," the foreign secretary said. "But in certain circumstances it is possible, consistent with those resolutions, to provide people with the means to defend the civilian population." Other countries, he added, "will interpret the resolution in their own way". Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister, went further. "Either we make it possible for these people to defend themselves or we withdraw our claims of support," he said.

Hamad admitted that there were differences of interpretation but added: "Qatar will make things available for the Libyan people to defend themselves."

But Belgium insisted it would not countenance any move to arm the rebels.

Plans for a "temporary financial mechanism" to channel cash to the Benghazi-based opposition were also discussed. Aid to eastern Libya would need to be consistent with UN sanctions, diplomats warned. But the ability to supply basic services would bolster the position and credibility of the Interim National Council. Disagreements surfaced over an Italian call to use frozen Libyan state assets to help the rebels.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, highlighted the scale of the crisis when he told delegates that up to 3.6 million Libyans could need humanitarian assistance.

Hague said that Nato's "decisive action" had saved thousands of lives. But there were fresh signs of divisions over the military campaign, with the UK and France, which have conducted the bulk of the attack missions, pressing Italy and Belgium to take part in targeting Libyan forces. "We have sent more ground strike aircraft in order to protect civilians," Hague said. "We do look to other countries to do the same."

The Libyan opposition also urged Nato to do more. "When the Americans were involved the mission was very active and it leant more toward protecting civilians," said spokesman Mahmoud Shammam. Opposition officials were leaving later for the US to lobby the Obama administration.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato's secretary general, defended the alliance's record after its aircraft flew more than 2,000 sorties. But since its mandate was to protect civilians it had to be cautious. "We do our utmost to strike the right balance," Rasmussen said.

Allied strategy remains a combination of military pressure and hope that Gaddafi will suffer further damaging defections. "The aim is very clear," said France's foreign minister, Alain Jupp�. "We must keep up a strong and robust military pressure to convince Gaddafi there is no way out."

International efforts on Libya shift to Cairo on Thursday when the UN's Ban joins the Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa, African Union commission chairman Jean Ping and the EU's foreign policy chief, Lady Ashton. That meeting is expected to discuss a Turkish "roadmap" for peace under which Gaddafi's forces would withdraw from besieged cities such as Misrata. But that would evidently require the agreement of the government in Tripoli.

quote:

donderdag 14 april 2011 | 08:23
(Novum/AP) - AJDABIYA - De NAVO heeft woensdag luchtaanvallen uitgevoerd op militaire doelen van de Libische leider Moammar Gadhafi. Zo werd zeker een munitiebunker van Gadhafi's troepen aan de rand van de hoofdstad Tripoli gebombardeerd. Dit heeft een NAVO-zegsman verklaard.

Het Libische staatspersbureau JANA meldde dat ook doelen in Misrata, Sirte en Aziziyah door NAVO-gevechtstoestellen waren aangevallen. Volgens JANA trof de luchtaanval op doelen in Misrata een woonwijk. Een plaatselijke activist zei dat de bewoners van de wijk weken geleden hun huizen hadden verlaten toen troepen van Gadhafi de wijk binnenvielen. Verder.

quote:

Op dinsdag 12 april 2011 19:28 schreef Hans_van_Baalen het volgende:
Het is wat cru uitgedrukt ja.

Ter verduidelijking. Ik ben tegen een grondoffensief, en voor intensievere bombardementen. Op voorwaarde dat ze eerste de communicatie wat opkrikken.

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Op woensdag 13 april 2011 18:18 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

De coalitielanden moeten Gaddafi onder sterke militaire druk blijven zetten om hem tot aftreden te bewegen. Dat zei de Franse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Alain Juppe vanmiddag na overleg met zijn collega’s in Qatar.

quote:

Op donderdag 14 april 2011 11:46 schreef Monidique het volgende:

[..]

O, goh. En ik maar denken dat dit gewoon een humanitaire interventie was. Hm, wie had ooit -ooi!- kunnen bedenken dat zoiets escaleert. Goh. Hm. Tsjoh.

quote:

Op donderdag 14 april 2011 12:20 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Dat is het toch? Het is alleen maar humaan om de wereld van Ghaddafi te verlossen.

quote:

De opstandeling zei dat 'de NAVO niets heeft gedaan om de burgers te beschermen' tijdens de urenlange aanval van de Gadhafi-getrouwen.

quote:

Top in Egypte over toekomst Libi� levert weinig op
14/04/11, 14u52

dm UPDATE Vertegenwoordigers van de internationale gemeenschap zijn vandaag in de Egyptische hoofdstad Ca�ro bijeengekomen om te zoeken naar een politieke oplossing voor de burgeroorlog in Libi�. De bijeenkomst in het kantoor van de Arabische Liga is afgelopen, maar heeft weinig opgeleverd
De deelnemers aan de bijeenkomst bleken het op twee punten met elkaar eens: in Libi� moet een wapenstilstand komen en er moeten voorbereidingen worden getroffen om tot een politieke oplossing van het conflict te komen. Concrete afspraken werden echter niet gemaakt.

Grote zorgen
"We zijn hier omdat we ons grote zorgen maken over de crisis in Libi�", zei secretaris-generaal Amr Moussa van de Arabische Liga aan het begin van de conferentie. "Er is daar een humanitaire ramp gaande."

Op de bijeenkomst in Ca�ro zijn naast de Arabische Liga onder anderen secretaris-generaal Ban Ki-moon van de VN, EU-buitenlandchef Catherine Ashton en vertegenwoordigers van de Afrikaanse Unie aanwezig.

Meningsverschillen
Moussa sprak nochtans de hoop uit dat de bijeenkomst net zo effectief zou zijn als de bijeenkomst van de internationale contactgroep voor Libi� gisteren in de Qatarse hoofdstad Doha. De deelnemers, onder wie de Verenigde Staten, Groot-Brittanni� en Frankrijk, riepen de Libische leider Mouammar Kadhafi gezamenlijk op te vertrekken.

De ontmoeting in Doha bracht verder echter vooral meningsverschillen aan het licht. Zo vinden Frankrijk en Groot-Brittanni� dat te veel NAVO-bondgenoten zich beperken tot patrouilles ter controle van het vliegverbod boven Libi�. Zij zouden graag zien dat meer landen hun luchtmacht inzetten om gronddoelen te bestoken, zoals de grondtroepen van kolonel Kaddafi die met zware wapens op burgers schieten. (anp/tvl)

quote:

dm UPDATE "Libische rebellen kregen antitankraketten van Qatar"
Qatar heeft antitankraketten geleverd aan de rebellen in de stad Benghazi. Het gaat om Milan-raketten van Franse makelij. Dat zegt de Libische viceminister van Buitenlandse Zaken Khaled Kaaim (foto).
Qatar en Frankrijk maken deel uit van de internationale coalitie die de militaire interventie leidt in Libi�.

De raketten zouden zijn geleverd aan opstandelingen in het rebellenbolwerk Benghazi, in het oosten van Libi�. Volgens Kaim zijn ook twintig Qatarezen in de stad om de rebellen te trainen.

De Golfstaat Qatar steunt de rebellen openlijk. Het is een van de Arabische landen in de internationale coalitie die de Libische burgers vanuit de lucht probeert te beschermen tegen aanvallen van Kadhafi.

Qatar pleitte er gisteren nog voor om de Libische rebellen in staat te stellen zich te verdedigen. Het land deed dat op een internationale conferentie over Libi� in de eigen hoofdstad Doha. Zo kan Libi� "beslissen over zijn eigen toekomst", aldus kroonprins Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

Behalve Qatar spraken ook Itali�, de Verenigde Staten en Groot-Brittanni� zich uit voor bewapening van de opstandelingen. (afp/sam)

quote:

12:37 Reuters In Misrata, the death toll of this mornings attack with Grad rockets has risen to 23, including 3 Egyptians. Dozens are wounded. Those killed are civilians and most of them are women and children, a spokesman told Reuters.

10:37 Reuters Gaddafis forces struck Misrata with dozens of Grad rockets on Thursday, killing eight people according to an opposition spokesman. They fired Grads at a residential area called Kasr Ahmad near the port this morning. They fired at least 80 rockets on that area. So far we have eight martyrs and 20 wounded, Abdelbasset Abu Mzereiq told Reuters by telephone..

quote:

Op donderdag 14 april 2011 13:27 schreef Monidique het volgende:

[..]

Humaner zou zijn om een staakt-het-vuren af te kondigen, maar dat willen de opstandelingen niet. Wat een wespennest, waar we ons in hebben begeven.

quote:

Nato commander of Libya mission pleads for specialised fighter jets

Admiral James Stavridis says precision ground-attack jets would help minimise civilian casualties

The Nato commander in charge of the operation in Libya has issued a plea for more specialised fighter jets to join the operation if civilian casualties are to be minimised.

At a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Berlin, Admiral James Stavridis asked for more "precision fighter ground-attack aircrafts" which could best identify land targets, said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Nato secretary general.

The US military has the world's most sophisticated warplanes, but Rasmussen insisted Stavridis had not singled out the Americans when making his plea. After its lead role in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US has taken a back seat in the Libyan operation, leaving Britain and France to lead the charge against Muammar Gaddafi.

The US ended strike missions earlier this month, depriving Nato of warplanes such as A-10 Warthogs and AC-130 gunships, which can be more accurate than higher-flying jet fighters for ground-attack missions.

Rasmussen said he was confident more member countries would "step up to the plate" but admitted he had "no specific pledges" following the first meeting of the two-day summit.

He said he had "heard statements which give me hope" that by the time the ministers fly home on Friday, more countries will have increased their commitment to the Libyan operation.

He dismissed any notions of a schism between Nato's 28 members following the decision of many countries, including Germany and Turkey, not to take part in the operation other than on a humanitarian level. In a briefing earlier, Spanish officials said they would not take part in any ground attack.

Rasmussen insisted the foreign ministers had a shared goal. "We are committed to provide all necessary resources and maximum operational flexibility within our mandate. A high operational tempo against legitimate targets will be maintained and we will exert this pressure for as long as necessary," he told a press conference at Germany's foreign ministry.

He said the group had agreed the mission would continue until it achieved its three objectives, which were:

• All attacks and threats of attack against civilians and civilian-populated areas have ended.

• The regime has verifiably withdrawn to bases all military forces, including snipers, mercenaries and other paramilitary forces, including from all populated areas they have forcibly entered, occupied or besieged, throughout all of Libya, including Ajdabiya, Brega, Jadu, al-Jebal al-Gharbiya, Kikla, Misrata, Nalut, Ras Lanuf, Yefrin, Zawiya, Zintan and Zuara.

• The regime must permit immediate, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all the people in Libya in need of assistance.

In the three weeks of the mission, Nato planes have flown over Libya 2,000 times, including 900 attack sorties, said Rasmussen, who reiterated that Nato believed that "a transparent political solution" was "the only way to bring an end to the crisis and build lasting peace in Libya and a better future for the Libyan people".

The alliance agrees that Gaddafi must be ousted, but it has previously been at odds on how to proceed. One proposal from Italy – Libya's former colonial ruler – calls for the western powers to provide defensive weapons to rebels. In Berlin, France's foreign minister, Alain Jupp�, said he did not share the Italian view.

France has said Nato is not doing enough, and was pushing other countries at the meeting to work on "more robust, more efficient, more rapid actions", according to the French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero in Paris.

The rebels have been urging the US military to reassert a stronger role in the Nato-led air campaign. The Obama administration, however, has insisted the US will stick to its plan of remaining in a supporting role, and the Pentagon noted that Americans have flown 35% of all air missions over the past 10 days.

The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, appealed to the other Nato foreign ministers for unity. "As our mission continues, maintaining our resolve and unity only grows more important," she said. "Gaddafi is testing our determination."

Nato members are "sharing the same goal, which is to see the end of the Gaddafi regime in Libya," Clinton said. "We must also intensify our political, diplomatic and economic mission to pressure and isolate Gaddafi and bring about his departure."

The world must "deepen our engagement with and increase our support for" the Libyan opposition, she added.

quote:

Op donderdag 14 april 2011 17:32 schreef Papierversnipperaar het volgende:

[..]

Smerige leugenaar. Ghaddafie heeft 2 x een staakt het vuren afgekondigd waar hij zich zelf niet aan hield. Het is een totaal onbetrouwbare psychopaat en jij durft daar de oppositie de schuld van te geven.

quote:

Op donderdag 14 april 2011 17:52 schreef sunny16947 het volgende:
Ik denk vast te simpel, maar met zoveel landen met militaire overmacht moet het toch mogelijk zijn om in 1 groot luchtoffensief dat legertje van G uit te schakelen? Daar spaar je uiteindelijk burgers mee. Dit slepende in balans houden maakt alleen maar meer slachtoffers.