Fighting in Libya spread to towns near Tripoli, as eastern cities organized interim governments. France called for Moammar Qaddafi to step down, and Italy is preparing a “rescue mission.”
As his regime totters, Col. Qaddafi calls the insurrection an al-Qaeda conspiracy. But will it be enough to assure the good graces of his one-time advisor Richard “Prince of Darkness” Perle?
The Algerian Council of Ministers approved a draft ordinance repealing the country’s 19-year state of emergency, delivering on a promise made the week before in the face of protests.
Moammar Qaddafi’s regime has lost vast swathes of Libya’s east to insurrectionists, with many army troops going over the rebels. Two pilots defected after being ordered to bomb Benghazi.
Fidel Castro writes in his column “Reflections of Comrade Fidel” that NATO’s planned invasion of Libya will begin in “a matter of hours or a few days.”
Libya’s UN Mission—breaking with the regime of Moammar Qaddafi—called on the UN to impose a no-fly zone over the country. European diplomats say NATO is prepared to enforce a no-fly zone.
Protesters, apparently joined by members of the security forces, seized control over several eastern Libyan cities, and fighting has now spread to Tripoli, where warplanes are strafing demonstrators.
Hundreds of protesters clashed with police and government supporters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. Opposition leaders have called for a national “day of rage” tomorrow.
Tunisia’s government harshly condemned a suggestion by Rome that Italian security forces could be sent to the North African country to stem the flow of undocumented migrants.
A young man died in central Morocco after setting himself on fire in despair at his economic situation—recalling the incident that set off the Tunisian revolution.
Up to 2,000 marched in Algiers despite a ban on demonstrations in the city, and pushed back against police who tried to bar the march with a cordon of troops and armored vehicles.
Libya’s secret police have detained Jamal al-Hajji, an activist who initiated a Facebook call for “day of rage” protests against the Moamar Qaddafi regime on Feb. 17.
