(Libyan rebel army officers teach the use of weapons to civilians who have volunteered for the rebel army in Benghazi.)
Heavily armed youths and former security forces ready for push, but Gaddafi family stronghold of Sirte looms
Martin Chulov in Benghazi
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011
"Groups of revolutionaries are starting to move towards western Libya in an attempt to link up with opposition militias near Tripoli, setting the stage for a final assault on the capital – perhaps within weeks.
The groups are heavily armed with military weapons, which have been looted from every army base and police headquarters east of the central oil town of Ras Lusafa. They have fought skirmishes with pro-regime forces near the Gaddafi family stronghold of Sirte, but have so far avoided intensive clashes.
Organisers in Benghazi said the groups were mostly youths and former security forces who defected during the battles that led to the fall of the city.
Ramadan Faitoura, a member of the newly formed interim government in Libya's second city, said the groups were not part of an official push westward, although they have the support of the nascent leadership.
"We have a lot of weapons, and they have a lot of motivation," he said. "My job is to make the connections."
There appear to be plenty of volunteers along the way.......
The question of what to do with the weapons will be determined by a national council, which was announced today , and which has been given the task of putting a political face on the revolution. Gaddafi's former justice minister, Mustafa Mohamed Abud Ajleil, will run the national council and a number of the dictator's former loyalist generals will be given prominent roles.
"We want to see if we can co-ordinate between municipal councils from east and west to form an organising body," said Salwa Bugaighis, a lawyer involved in the Benghazi coalition.
"One of the aims of the body is to help the resistance in Tripoli through military and other means," she said....."
Martin Chulov in Benghazi
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011
"Groups of revolutionaries are starting to move towards western Libya in an attempt to link up with opposition militias near Tripoli, setting the stage for a final assault on the capital – perhaps within weeks.
The groups are heavily armed with military weapons, which have been looted from every army base and police headquarters east of the central oil town of Ras Lusafa. They have fought skirmishes with pro-regime forces near the Gaddafi family stronghold of Sirte, but have so far avoided intensive clashes.
Organisers in Benghazi said the groups were mostly youths and former security forces who defected during the battles that led to the fall of the city.
Ramadan Faitoura, a member of the newly formed interim government in Libya's second city, said the groups were not part of an official push westward, although they have the support of the nascent leadership.
"We have a lot of weapons, and they have a lot of motivation," he said. "My job is to make the connections."
There appear to be plenty of volunteers along the way.......
The question of what to do with the weapons will be determined by a national council, which was announced today , and which has been given the task of putting a political face on the revolution. Gaddafi's former justice minister, Mustafa Mohamed Abud Ajleil, will run the national council and a number of the dictator's former loyalist generals will be given prominent roles.
"We want to see if we can co-ordinate between municipal councils from east and west to form an organising body," said Salwa Bugaighis, a lawyer involved in the Benghazi coalition.
"One of the aims of the body is to help the resistance in Tripoli through military and other means," she said....."
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