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NATO commander warns against attacks on civilians

March 31, 2011 by benim

BRUSSELS – The new commander of international military operations in Libya warned Thursday that anyone attacking civilians would be “ill-advised” to continue, and said he would look into a report by a Vatican envoy that air strikes had killed 40 … read more »

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Gadhafi’s forces adapt to airstrikes, pound rebels

March 31, 2011 by benim

Moammar Gadhafi’s ground forces recaptured a strategic oil town Wednesday and moved within striking distance of another major eastern city, nearly reversing the gains rebels made since international airstrikes began. Rebels pleaded for more help, while a U.S. official said … read more »

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Obama confident Kadhafi will step down

March 30, 2011 by benim

US President Barack Obama said he was confident that Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi would “ultimately” step down and warned he had not ruled out supplying arms to rebels seeking to oust him. Obama said the “noose is tightening” around the … read more »

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Intelligence on Libya rebels shows “flickers” of Qaeda

March 30, 2011 by benim

Intelligence on the rebels battling Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi has shown “flickers” of al Qaeda or Hezbollah presence, NATO’s operations commander said, but U.S. officials said there were no indications militant groups are playing a significant role in Libya. “We are … read more »

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Gaddafi must face a war crime trial not exile, insists Britian PM

March 29, 2011 by benim

David Cameron will tell world leaders they must put Colonel Gaddafi on trial and back Libyan rebels at a crisis conference in London today. The Prime Minister will reject a plan by Italy and Germany to let the tyrant go … read more »

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Libya announces ceasefire in Misrata

March 28, 2011 by benim

Rabat – Libya’s Foreign Ministry declared a ceasefire in Misrata on Monday, the Libyan news agency said, referring to the western town where rebels earlier said government forces gained control of part of the city. “The Foreign Ministry… announces that … read more »

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British jets bomb Gaddafi ammo dump

March 28, 2011 by benim

London – British jets bombed ammunition bunkers in southern Libya early on Monday after weekend strikes took out a score of tanks and armoured vehicles near the towns of Ajdabiya and Misrata, officials said. Tornado GR4s flying from Britain and … read more »

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Rebels eye east Libya town

March 21, 2011 by benim

Benghazi – Libyan rebels moved their forces near Ajdabiyah on Sunday after Western air strikes devastated Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on a road leading up to the strategic eastern Libyan town. Rebels said they were waiting for more Western strikes that … read more »

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Where were “African Union” when Gaddafi started killing his own people?

March 20, 2011 by benim

According to a report from four-hour meeting in the Mauritanian capital, the African Union’s panel on Libya Sunday called for an “immediate stop” to all attacks after the United States, France and Britain launched military action against Moamer Kadhafi’s forces. … read more »

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Gadhafi vows ‘long war’ after US, allies strike

March 20, 2011 by benim

The U.S. and European nations targeted Moammar Gadhafi’s forces with airstrikes and dozens of cruise missiles, shaking the Libyan capital with explosions and the sound of gunfire early Sunday. The Libyan leader vowed a long war “with unlimited patience and … read more »

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French fighter planes could strike Libyan tanks Saturday

March 19, 2011 by benim

A French official says Mirage and Rafale fighter jets are flying over the Libyan city of Benghazi and could strike Libyan tanks. The official says the jets are flying over the opposition stronghold and its surroundings to ensure that Moammar … read more »

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World leaders ponder Libya military strikes

March 19, 2011 by benim

Paris – US, European and Arab leaders on Saturday held a Libya crisis summit with the threat of military strikes against Muammar Gaddafi’s forces growing ever more intense. A French envoy said strikes against the Libyan leader could start within … read more »

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Gaddafi forces fire on Misrata

March 19, 2011 by benim

Libyan forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi fired artillery shells into the rebel-held city of Misrata early on Saturday and water supplies were still cut off, a resident said. “They (Gaddafi’s forces) bombed the town with four or five artillery shells … read more »

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Libyan Opposition welcomes UN decision

March 17, 2011 by benim

News of the UN Security Council vote has been met with relief by Libyan opposition groups. One of the most prominent – the National Front for the Salvation of Libya – calls the UN’s decision a major step for the … read more »

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UN approves no-fly zone over Libya

March 17, 2011 by benim

New York – The UN Security Council has approved a no-fly zone over Libya and authorised “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from attacks by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces. The vote late on Thursday was 10-0 with five abstentions, including Russia … read more »

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Libya rebels battle to hold eastern city under heavy siege from Gadhafi’s forces

March 17, 2011 by benim

AJDABIYA, Libya – Libyan rebels battled to hold a strategic eastern city against a punishing offensive by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, voicing anger and frustration at the West for not coming to their aid. At the same time, government … read more »

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Kadhafi announces ‘decisive battle’ as UN debates action

March 17, 2011 by benim

Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi said his forces would fight a “decisive battle” Thursday, as diplomats backing a no-fly zone to rein him in pressed for a vote at the UN Security Council. Kadhafi’s latest comments came after his forces pressed … read more »

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Libya wants Sarkozy ‘campaign money’ back

March 16, 2011 by benim

Paris – Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son on Wednesday told “this clown” French President Nicolas Sarkozy to “give us back our money” allegedly used to finance his 2007 election victory. Seif al-Islam told Euronews that “we have all the details … read more »

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Protesters atop Libyan embassy in UK

March 16, 2011 by benim

London – Protesters climbed onto the roof of the Libyan embassy in central London on Wednesday, replacing the flag of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime with their own, police said. “A group of four or five protesters climbed up to the roof … read more »

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Gaddafi vows to crush rebels

March 16, 2011 by benim

Tripoli – Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi said on Tuesday he was determined to crush the month-old uprising against him, while at the UN, proposals for a no-fly zone to ground his warplanes met stiff resistance. And as Gaddafi’s army announced … read more »

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Italy Turns 1,800 North African Migrants Back to Libya

March 15, 2011 by benim

An Italian flagged ferry by the name of ‘Mistral express’ that was left stranded at 150 miles off the Sicilian coast due to concerns over lack of information on the 1,800 passengers intent, has turned around and is heading back … read more »

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UK will not go to war in Libya

March 15, 2011 by benim

London – Britain has no intention of getting involved in a war in Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday. Asked for reassurance that Britain would not get dragged into war as it seeks to step up pressure on … read more »

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Libyan rebels ask west to assassinate Gaddafi

March 14, 2011 by benim

Appeal to be made as G8 foreign ministers consider whether to back French and British calls for a no-fly zone over Libya. Libya’s revolutionary leadership is pressing western powers to assassinate Muammar Gaddafi and launch military strikes against his forces … read more »

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France, Britain push for speedier action against Gadhafi before meeting of top G-8 diplomats

March 14, 2011 by benim

PARIS – France and Britain stepped up calls Monday for other world powers to isolate Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi with a no-fly zone, amid diplomatic differences over how much backing to give Libyan rebels. The accelerated push came as U.S. Secretary … read more »

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Gaddafi’s men take another key oil town on road to rebel HQ

March 13, 2011 by benim

Colonel Gaddafi’s forces moved closer to the Libyan rebel capital of Benghazi yesterday after taking another key oil town. Al Brega fell after a fierce bombardment from land, sea and air. I watched rebel forces stream back along the desert … read more »

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Libya welcomes AU panel, slams Arab League

March 13, 2011 by benim

Libya said on Sunday it welcomed an African Union panel formed to try to end the Libyan crisis and said it would facilitate its work, while condemning an Arab League resolution calling for a no-fly zone over the country. “The … read more »

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Pro-Ouattara forces take 4th town

March 13, 2011 by benim

Abidjan – Forces allied with internationally recognised Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara on Sunday seized control of a fourth town from forces loyal to strongman Laurent Gbagbo in the west of the country, both sides reported. After fighting, the New Forces … read more »

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Libya: Recognizing the Opposition Gov. Constitutes a Pretext for Military Intervention

March 13, 2011 by benim

The eighth anniversary of the 2003 Anglo-American invasion of Iraq is quickly approaching. Many ask, has anything been learned? Senior foreign policy officials in the United States and the European Union have indeed “learned some lessons,” but not the ones … read more »

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Libyan army ‘marching to cleanse country’

March 13, 2011 by benim

Tripoli – Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi are “marching to cleanse the country” of insurgents, military spokesperson Milad Hussein told a press conference on Sunday. “Our raids are forcing the terrorists to flee. “We have liberated Zawiyah, Uqayla, … read more »

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Benghazi braces as morale sinks

March 13, 2011 by benim

Benghazi – Fear is gripping Benghazi, the stronghold of the rebellion against the regime of Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi, and morale sinking fast as residents brace for possible attacks by loyalists. “The euphoria is gone,” said grim-faced Mohammed Gepsi, a … read more »

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