More than 30 people killed as opposition fighters force back government troops in western town of Az Zawiyah.
Al-Jazeera
"Anti-government fighters in the western Libyan town of Az Zawiyah have pushed back forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan president, following a fierce assault on the town.
Gaddafi's forces on Saturday encircled Az Zawiyah, which lies just 50km west of the capital Tripoli, manning checkpoints about 3km from the centre, according to reports....
National council
Elsewhere, following heavy fighting on Friday, anti-government forces were said to be in control of Ras Lanuf, a pipeline hub on the Mediterranean coast that houses a major refinery and petrochemical complex, according to reports form the AFP news agency.
The nearby town of Bin Jawad was also under anti-government control on Saturday, sources told Al Jazeera.
In Benghazi, Libya's second city which is in the hands of anti-government forces, the self-declared opposition national council, held their first meeting on Saturday.
"The national council's first formal meeting is starting this morning," Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for group, said.
The 30-member body is headed by Mustafa Abdel Jalil, a former justice minister who defected from Gaddafi's camp after protests against the Libyan leader's rule erupted two weeks ago. The meeting was held in secret.
"It's a safety issue," Gheriani said. "This guy [Gadaffi] still assassinates people."
'Call to arms'
Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Benghazi, said that resistance to Gadaffi's rule was strengthening.
"I think they're coming to the realisation that the outcome is in their own hands. They did think that Gaddafi would leave peacefully, they then thought that the international community would take steps and force him out," he said.
"I think the pendulum has swung now and they believe it is in their own hands.
"They are answering the call to arms, they are coming from all over eastern Libya, bringing their weapons, getting whatever training they can and moving on."....."
Al-Jazeera
"Anti-government fighters in the western Libyan town of Az Zawiyah have pushed back forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan president, following a fierce assault on the town.
Gaddafi's forces on Saturday encircled Az Zawiyah, which lies just 50km west of the capital Tripoli, manning checkpoints about 3km from the centre, according to reports....
National council
Elsewhere, following heavy fighting on Friday, anti-government forces were said to be in control of Ras Lanuf, a pipeline hub on the Mediterranean coast that houses a major refinery and petrochemical complex, according to reports form the AFP news agency.
The nearby town of Bin Jawad was also under anti-government control on Saturday, sources told Al Jazeera.
In Benghazi, Libya's second city which is in the hands of anti-government forces, the self-declared opposition national council, held their first meeting on Saturday.
"The national council's first formal meeting is starting this morning," Mustafa Gheriani, a spokesman for group, said.
The 30-member body is headed by Mustafa Abdel Jalil, a former justice minister who defected from Gaddafi's camp after protests against the Libyan leader's rule erupted two weeks ago. The meeting was held in secret.
"It's a safety issue," Gheriani said. "This guy [Gadaffi] still assassinates people."
'Call to arms'
Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Benghazi, said that resistance to Gadaffi's rule was strengthening.
"I think they're coming to the realisation that the outcome is in their own hands. They did think that Gaddafi would leave peacefully, they then thought that the international community would take steps and force him out," he said.
"I think the pendulum has swung now and they believe it is in their own hands.
"They are answering the call to arms, they are coming from all over eastern Libya, bringing their weapons, getting whatever training they can and moving on."....."
No comments:
Post a Comment