Libya too?!

E-Sabbath · August 21, 2011, 7:39pm

Updated map. Blue is rebel control, red is contested. Rixos is the journalist hotel.
http://i.imgur.com/oS4Nfl.jpg Scribbles are newer than spraypaint dots.

Prisons, detention centers, and weapons depots in Tripoli. Compare with above map.

Al-Jazeera is reporting that the rebels have now entered Tripoli from the west now via Janzor. That’s to the left of the map, about three inches. That’s the regular army of the rebels.

Heavy gunfire outside the Rixos with a green loyalist flag now hanging in the lobby. Govt minders are armed and journalists have donned bulletproof vests, seeking a safe room.
The Khamis Brigade’s base has been captured.
NPR report:

Just came back from main khames base in Maia. Nato bombed it, the rebels have taken it and are now taking weapons.
libya rebel in maia tells me "these are the rockets gadhafi used against us, now they are ours". Huge dump truck overflowing with grads.
Hundreds of rebels cars stream into Khames's base in Maia, taking weapons and celebrating. Spoke to prisoners who escaped
nato bombing was key to taking Khames base in Maia. Rebels are streaming to front, they are now only miles away from Tripoli.
rebels say #gadhafi forces ran away from Maia, main defensive line #tripoli now broken #libya. But the fight for the capital will be tough

http://twitter.com/#!/lourdesgnavarro

Gaddafi speaks again!

March towards Tajourah in the thousands now – now, now, you must march towards Tajourah in the thousands.

A quarter million must go there, or half a million from Tripoli must march towards Tajourah and the Friday Market to cleanse them of the agents of the colonial conspirators."

I am with you in this battle, I am among you now, I am there with my weapon. We shall not give up. We shall never give up Tripoli to the colonialists or traitors.

I am forced to say this because I am afraid that Tripoli will burn if you leave them – Tripoli would fall in ruins and it would be destroyed. Tripoli would be left without water, electricity, no broadcast stations, without freedom and you would live in fear.

They will kill you and violate your households. I am afraid if you do not get rid of them in Tajourah, what is happening there will happen all over Tripoli. These people don’t care if Libya burns or not.

You possess all sorts of weapons. Those of you without a weapon should come and receive a weapon. All the weapons depots must open and the masses must be armed. Thousands must receive weapons now. Open the depots. I give the order to open the depots to arm the masses.

I am with you now, I am with you in Tripoli. There shall be no retreat - we will not retreat until the last inch of land we want to liberate.

DWMarch · August 21, 2011, 9:31pm

CNN is reporting Saif al-Islam (Gadhafi’s son) has been captured. They don’t have an article on it yet but it’s on the front page of CNN.com

clairobscur · August 21, 2011, 9:39pm

Someone mentioned on TV he could try to flee to the desert with the support of his tribe and the backing of the brigades of two of his others sons.

Ximenean · August 21, 2011, 10:06pm

Sky News are absolute slaughtering BBC and CNN on this. The BBC were still calmy delivering sports news until about twenty minutes ago! Sky has been live from what appears to be the liberation of Tripoli, for about an hour.

Baron_Greenback · August 21, 2011, 10:09pm

So are Al-Jazeera. The regime is fucked, totally fucked. This is a Ceaușescu moment.

Edit: Alex Crawford from Sky is winning yet more awards. She and her team are fantastic journos

Baron_Greenback · August 21, 2011, 10:14pm

Fucking hell guys, stop wasting ammo.

Baron_Greenback · August 21, 2011, 10:20pm

sprays proper gun wildly into the sky

Fear_Itself · August 21, 2011, 10:33pm

How will Republicans spin this as a failure by Obama?

Ramira · August 21, 2011, 10:40pm

The arabic Al jazeera channel has indicated that the commanders of the Tripoli brigades gave order to their men to stop fighitng the rebellion, it was their decision.

Der_Trihs · August 21, 2011, 10:40pm

Easily; when the end result fails to be a Libyan Utopia, they’ll claim that everything that goes wrong there is because he didn’t do enough or did too much.

Eva_Luna · August 21, 2011, 11:15pm

This is just mind-blowing to watch. **Bibliovore, ** are you still here, or are you out celebrating?

Euphonious_Polemic · August 21, 2011, 11:18pm

I just saw a bunch of cars driving around town honking and people cheering and flying Libyan flags. A very long way from Tripoli, but what the heck - folks on the street waved and cheered back.

John_Mace · August 21, 2011, 11:20pm

I wonder what the Syrians are thinking.

E-Sabbath · August 21, 2011, 11:42pm

Hamza al Tuhami, the state TV anchor has been reported to be captured. State TV is showing archival video of Gadaffi touring Green Square as the rebels are driving through it.
Multiple confirmation, Saif El-Islam captured.
Moussa Ibrahim (the propagandist on the telly) is being incredibly entertaining whilst denying reality.
The ICC say they have Saif Al Islam.
Confirmed - Squad in charge of protecting Gadaffi just surrendered.
People are going nuts in the street, waving flags and setting off fireworks. Seriously, it’s one huge effing party. Most troops have proactively surrendered. Some Gadaffi forces tried to retake Green Square, but this is not house to house city fighting.
Party in central square. People chillin in bucket loader.

Mohammed Gadaffi surrendered. This is Gadaffi’s eldest son.
Saadi Gadaffi captured.
Al-Jazeera is talking to a rebel in Gadaffi’s house. Not really saying much besides ‘holy shit I’m in his house’ (I’m in yr base killing yr mans)
Tripoli 90% in rebel hands and increasing.
Rebels in Al Khums attempting to finish takeover, join in Tripoli. It’s after Zilten, on the way from Misrata.
Oil should go down a bit now.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Oil-prices-should-fall-with-apf-3061102836.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=&ccode=
Libyan Embassy in Algeria announces its loyalty to the Rebellion. That might suck for Gadaffi.
NATO statement

The Qadhafi regime is clearly crumbling. The sooner Qadhafi realises that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better – so that the Libyan people can be spared further bloodshed and suffering.

The Libyan people have suffered tremendously under Qaddafi’s rule for over four decades. Now they have a chance for a new beginning. Now is the time for all threats against civilians to stop, as the United Nations Security Council demanded. Now is the time to create a new Libya – a state based on freedom, not fear; democracy, not dictatorship; the will of the many, not the whims of a few.

That transition must come peacefully. It must come now. And it must be led and defined by the Libyan people.

NATO is ready to work with the Libyan people and with the Transitional National Council, which holds a great responsibility. They must make sure that the transition is smooth and inclusive, that the country stays united, and that the future is founded on reconciliation and respect for human rights.

Qadhafi’s remaining allies and forces also have a great responsibility. It is time to end their careers of violence. The world is watching them. This is their opportunity to side with the Libyan people and choose the right side of history.

We will continue to monitor military units and key facilities, as we have since March, and when we see any threatening moves towards the Libyan people, we will act in accordance with our UN mandate.

Our goal throughout this conflict has been to protect the people of Libya, and that is what we are doing.

Because the future of Libya belongs to the Libyan people. And it is for the international community to assist them, with the United Nations and the Contact Group playing a leading role. NATO wants the Libyan people to be able to decide their future in freedom and in peace. Today, they can start building that future

Rumors:
The intelligence chief’s son has been killed.
Gadaffi is in Sirte. Or possibly Algeria.
Hala Misrati found dead in her home. (Libyan state TV host)

Statement from government official: Nato is working for Al-Qaeda.
Crowds, jumping up and down on a big Gadaffi poster rug. They’ve been just jumping on it and driving over it for hours. It’s a very tough rug. I’m impressed.
https://yfrog.com/kk5a8bmij
Gadaffi’s final speech

And now a pro-Gadaffi twitter.
https://twitter.com/#!/GloPeaceLibya

Declan · August 21, 2011, 11:44pm

Winter is coming
Declan

Der_Trihs · August 21, 2011, 11:49pm

Has anyone ever seen him and Baghdad Bob in the same place at the same time?

John_Mace · August 21, 2011, 11:56pm

Meesa wants Moussa Koussa back!

Baron_Greenback · August 22, 2011, 12:44am

Fucking hell, this is really kicking off.

Qin_Shi_Huangdi · August 22, 2011, 12:45am

I wonder what Commissar is thinking/

Baron_Greenback · August 22, 2011, 12:58am

Don’t know if these will work:

Sky: The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky News let the main thing stream, takes a minute. Nutter reporters under fire

Al Jazeera: Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera and indeed, people in a square

BBC, mind they do not broadcast unless confirmed, kinda BBC News - Libya fighting

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Libya too?!

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