North Africa

Libya: oil, water interests behind war?

France and the NTC deny claims in the Paris daily LibĂ©ration that they have signed a secret deal granting French companies exclusive access to 35% of Libya’s oil reserves. Qaddafi meanwhile charges imperialist designs on deep Saharan fossil aquifers.

North Africa

Did US officials secretly aid Qaddafi?

AlJazeera claims to have uncovered documents in the ransacked offices of Qaddafi’s intelligence chief implicating US officials—including Rep. Dennis Kucinich—in secretly aiding the strongman, in violation of stated policy.

North Africa

NTC denies Polisario Front presence in Libya

Libya’s Transitional National Council denied charges made by Morocco’s official news service that some 550 Polisario Front fighters from occupied Western Sahara had been arrested for serving as mercenaries for Qaddafi.

North Africa

Yes, “terrorists” in Libya rebel ranks

Abdelhakim Belhaj, recently appointed to Tripoli’s rebel military council, was a founder of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, an anti-Qaddafi cell designated by the US State Department as a terrorist organization with links to al-Qaeda

North Africa

Algeria: AQIM claims growing attacks on security forces

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for three suicide attacks in Algeria this summer—most recently at military barracks in the coastal town of Cherchel, leaving 18 dead.

North Africa

Juan Cole deconstructs pseudo-left jive on Libya

Juan Cole was a hero of the left when he slapped down mainstream media jive on the Iraq war just a few short years ago. But now he takes on idiot-left jive on Libya—which has at times deteriorated into shameless cheerleading for Qaddafi.