Libyan rebels enter Ajdabiya town

Source: Al Jazeera English

The gain followed air strikes by coalition forces against Gaddafi's forces in the strategic town.
Last Modified: Mar 26 2011 04:32

Libyan rebels say they have entered the government-controlled city of Ajdabiya from the east, in a bid to wrestle control of the strategic eastern city.

Many fighters belonging to forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were held hostage after fierce fighting on Friday, they said.

Pro-Gaddafi forces are now mainly positioned in the west of the city, having previously held the entire city, they said.

Earlier on Friday, western warplanes bombed Gaddafi's tanks and artillery outside the town to try to break a battlefield stalemate and help rebels retake the strategic area.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/201132521323292102.html

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There were reports from a CNN correspondent tonight (Friday evening, PDT) that he was seeing more opposition fighters arriving at Ajdabiyah with better weapons--including multiple rocket launchers.

He also reported seeing more members of defected army units now showing up at the front instead of "sitting at home."

Both developments obviously were good signs for the opposition's chances.

K&R :hi:

Was that Ben Wedeman? I'll have a look on their site to see if they've added an article and/or uploaded a video.

:hi:

Good news to start the day with. (I'm guessing you won't read this until you wake up Saturday morning, unless your on an all nighter) :hi:

I'd just eaten and was about to turn in when I saw Josh's post on Ajdabiyah.

The CNN report I saw was by a correspondent I'm not familiar with (and the video isn't posted yet). Wedeman left Libya 11 days ago. Nic Robertson and Arwa Damon are still there for CNN, along with several others. I'll be looking for detailed reports on Ajdabiyah when I get up. Sounds like the airstrikes did a good job of taking out a lot of the loyalists' tanks, APC's and arty. Good news to go to sleep on!

:hi:

Source: BBC

Libyan rebels backed by allied air raids say they have seized control of the frontline oil town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's forces. The BBC's Ben Brown in Ajdabiya says there are scenes of jubilation among the insurgents. Gaddafi loyalists seized the town last week as they advanced east to quell an uprising now in its fifth week.

A correspondent for the AFP news agency also reported that Ajdabiya was back under rebel control. Defensive positions previously held by pro-Gaddafi forces stood deserted as rebels rolled into the town celebrating, the agency reported.

The insurgents were seen sounding car horns and flashing V for victory signs.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12869658

Still the victory seems incomplete to me. Where did the Gaddafi loyalists go? Letting them get away to be rearmed in a depot is only a very temporary victory, and for the western enclaves a very dangerous development.

The cowards, whoever was still alive, just ran away...

Word was spreading that ICC is planning to prosecute anyone firing on civilian populations. Adjabiya was shelled for days.

I do expect many soldiers to switch sides in order to stay on the payroll post Gaddafi.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14944686,00.html

Libyan rebels say they have taken control of the strategic oil town of Ajdabiya from Colonel Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

The successful operation by the rebels came after Western warplanes flew a seventh night of airstrikes enforcing a UN-mandated no-fly zone over the North African nation.

Libyan state television has said Gadhafi has given all members of his armed forces and police a promotion for what was called "their heroic and courageous fight against the crusader, colonialist assault." He is also said to be arming so-called "volunteers" to help fight the uprising.

This comes as US officials say Gadhafi is gradually losing his fighting capability. US military spokesman Vice Admiral William Gorgney said Gadhafi "has virtually no air defense left to him and a diminishing ability to command and sustain his forces on the ground."

I am loving all of this...:bounce: