As NATO carries out air-strikes and NTC forces advance on Qaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, the fugitive strongman’s forces are accused of holding the populace captive to use as “human shields.”
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
Ali Tarhuni, oil minister of Libya’s Transitional National Council, has assumed executive powers in Tripoli. But the African Union, in an emergency summit at Addis Ababa, refused to recognize the TNC as the legitimate government.
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.
Ibrahim ag-Bahanga, the most intransigent of Mali’s Tuareg rebel leaders, died in a mysterious accident in his remote Saharan homeland. Locas say he was involved in a dispute with fellow traffickers who were moving weapons to the Libyan rebels.
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.
AlJazeera uncovers evidence of “mass executions” of opposition activists by Qaddafi-loyalists in Tripoli, while AP finds rebels may have executed captive Qaddafi-loyalists. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma calls for an International Criminal Court probe of NATO.
Representatives of Libya’s rebel council flew to Doha, Qatar, to meet with international officials, seeking $2.5 billion in emergency financing. Ahmad Shabani, founder of the new Democratic Party of Libya, especially appealed for support from Israel.
As Libyan rebels continue to hunt Tripoli for Moammar Qaddafi—and to battle the remnants of his forces—the elusive strongman again delivered two broadcast messages during the night, urging residents to “cleanse Tripoli of rats.”
Rebels have overrun Moammar Qaddafi’s fortress-like compound in Tripoli, the Bab al-Aziziya, but the state TV station remains in pro-Qaddafi hands and continues to broadcast messages from the missing strongman.
Heavy fighting and NATO air-strikes continue in Tripoli, and two Qaddafi sons earlier reported as captured by rebels are now apparently free. China meanwhile expressed concerns that its oil investments in Libya will be honored by the new regime.
In a land and sea offensive closely coordinated with NATO, Libyan rebels advanced into the heart of Tripoli. Thousands of jubilant citizens filled the Green Square to cheer their convoys of armed pick-up trucks, with fighters firing in the air.
