Libyan Revolution Tweets, Day 8, Part 4 (The Time has come the walrus said...)

MilitantNews MilitantNews
#Gaddafi The time has come' the walrus said 'to talk of many things: of shoes and ships-and sealing wax-of cabbages and kings' Lewis Carroll
2 minutes ago

LibyanThinker The Libyan Thinker
Remains of Soldiers Burned to Death for Not Shooting Protesters in #Libya http://www.twitvid.com/YXKOT & http://tinyurl.com/4d6a57n

Zimbabwe charges 46 with treason for watching videos of Egypt protests
Activists, trade unionists and students could face death penalty after police raid meeting on Middle East uprisings

David Smith in Johannesburg
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 February 2011 13.55 GMT



Munyaradzi Gwisai, centre, appears in court in Harare with 45 others accused of plotting to remove the government of Zimbabwe 'the Egyptian way'. Photograph: Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP


Forty-six people in Zimbabwe have been charged with treason, and some allegedly beaten by police, after watching videos of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia

The activists, trade unionists and students were at a meeting on Saturday titled Revolt in Egypt and Tunisia: What lessons can be learnt by Zimbabwe and Africa?, when it was raided by police who seized a video projector, two DVDs and a laptop.

The group was detained in police cells and transferred to a notorious maximum security prison on Wednesday night. Treason can be punishable by death in Zimbabwe.

Prosecutors allege that Munyaradzi Gwisai, a labour activist and former MP, and the other participants were conducting the meeting to "organise, strategise and implement the removal of the constitutional government of Zimbabwe ... the Egyptian way".

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/24/zimbabwe-charged-treason-egypt-protests

BREAKING: Eyewitness update from Tripoli today
Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin
We quote:

Woke up tired but still the unfamiliar feeling I have had the past few days. I feel light, I feel free. Even with the rumors of tanks, shooting, etc I don’t care all I can think of is how nice it will be to have our country back. I never know a free Libya before. I feel no fear only excitement.

No posts on Facebook to say that anyone’s house was attacked or the people inside it. No rape no beatings in homes. These rumors are false. Please stop participating in the spreading of incorrect and unverified information. We will not back down. These fear tactics will not work we are numb to them. They have raped our country and people for years so what is new?

So if you want to post something, post this: tell the Gaddafi family that Jeal Alghadab (The Generation of Anger) is all grown up now. You can’t scare us with the bogeyman any more. Please save what is left of your nonexistent pride and leave. If you can’t find anyplace that will accept you I am sure the Libyan people will treat you better than you treated them. Libyan families lived for years on LYD250 am sure you can to.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/?p=2262

A Special Place in Hell by Bradley Burston
Published 17:20 23.02.11Latest update 17:20 23.02.11
In Israel, the revolution has already begun
This new revolution aims not only at the end of occupation, but at the beginning of a new Israel. Not for settlers, this time, but for Israelis.

By Bradley Burston
Tags: Israel news US Israel settlements Sheikh Jarrah

...


From the outside, it may well appear that nothing has changed: a small but strategic principality which has been ruled for decades by a self-declared aristocracy, few in number, fierce in influence, fundamentalist in outlook, increasingly non-democratic in governance.

Although technically and by blood one of the princes, the nominal prime minister is, in essence, a figurehead. Under pressure from the West to extend self-determination to minority regions, he knows that were he to agree to renounce sovereignty over these areas, he would be risking a bullet to his back.

For a while, the prime minister speaks of reforms, of a U.S.-backed vision of independence for the minority regions. But only for a while. Mindful of the well-armed 4 percent of the population which so often calls the shots for the other 96, he even risks the close relationship with the United States for the sake of the aristocracy, which lives in army-guarded estates away from view, beyond the borders of the general population.

The reforms fade as he speaks of the dark designs of regional foes, while his guileful chief coalition partner, the burly, corruption-shadowed grand vizier, a rival for the political affection of the aristocracy, exploits long-simmering hatreds to push for a broad range of curbs on democratic freedoms.

...

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.301040.1279614176!/image/722004351.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_295/722004351.jpg

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/a-special-place-in-hell/in-israel-the-revolution-has-already-begun-1.345239

Islamic Legion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Islamic Legion (Arabic الفيلق الإسلامي al-Failaka al-Islamiya<1>) (aka Islamic Pan-African Legion) was a Libyan-sponsored pan-Arab paramilitary force, created in 1972. The Legion was part of Muammar al-Gaddafi's dream of creating the Great Islamic State of the Sahel.

Creation

Gaddafi, who had come to power in September 1969, was not only a Pan-Africanist, but an Arab cultural supremacist. His hostility to Chad's government of President François Tombalbaye was at least partly inspired by Tombalbaye's African and Christian background. It also led Gaddafi to drive the Toubou of Libya, who were considered 'black', off Fezzan and across the Chadian border. Gaddafi supported the Sudanese government of Gaafar Nimeiry, referring to it as an "Arab Nationalist Revolutionary Movement", and even offered to merge the two countries at a meeting in late 1971. Gaddafi's plans for the peaceful formation of an "Arab Union" were dashed when Nimeiry turned down his offer and negotiated the Addis Ababa Agreement ending the First Sudanese Civil War, fought with the black animist and Christian South.<3> Gaddafi's definition of "Arab" was broad, including the Tuareg of Mali and Niger, as well as the Zaghawa of Chad and Sudan.<4>
In 1972, Gaddafi created the Islamic Legion as a tool to unify and Arabize the region. The priority of the Legion was first Chad, and then Sudan. In Darfur, a western province of Sudan, Gaddafi supported the creation of the Arab Gathering (Tajammu al-Arabi), which according to Gérard Prunier was "a militantly racist and pan-Arabist organization which stressed the 'Arab' character of the province."<1> The two organizations shared members and a source of support, and the distinction between the two is often ambiguous.
The Legion

This Islamic Legion was mostly composed of immigrants from poorer Sahelian countries<5>, but also, according to a source, thousands of Pakistanis who had been recruited in 1981 with the false promise of civilian jobs once in Libya.<6> Generally speaking, the Legion's members were immigrants who had gone to Libya with no thought of fighting wars, and had been provided with inadequate military training and had sparse commitment. A French journalist, speaking of the Legion's forces in Chad, observed that they were "foreigners, Arabs or Africans, mercenaries in spite of themselves, wretches who had come to Libya hoping for a civilian job, but found themselves signed up more or less by force to go and fight in an unknown desert."<5>

...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Legion

Libya rebels isolate Gaddafi, seizing cities and oilfields
Posted on February 24, 2011 by main

Dictator hemmed in by popular protests and unable to extend his rule beyond Tripoli as local committees take charge.

Opposition activists are increasing the pressure on Muammar Gaddafi’s ailing regime, shutting down oil exports and mobilising rebel groups in the west of the country as the revolution rapidly spreads.

Gaddafi’s hold on power appears confined to parts of Tripoli and perhaps several regions in the centre of the country. Towns to the west of the capital have fallen and all of eastern Libya is firmly in opposition hands.

In Benghazi, the country’s second city, basic order is returning to the streets after days of fierce fighting that resulted in the military defecting en masse. Virtually all government buildings were looted and wrecked.

...

http://feb17.info/media/libya-rebels-isolate-gaddafi-seizing-cities-and-oilfields/

African mercenaries awaiting trial in Benghazi…
Posted on February 24, 2011 by Chronos

US worried about Libya’s chemical arsenal
Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin
There is a significant stockpile of chemical weapons such as mustard gas.

“When you have a guy who’s as irrational as Gadhafi with some serious weapons at his disposal, it’s always a concern,” said a U.S. official.

Read the article here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704520504576162820431712238.html

http://www.libyafeb17.com/?p=2273

AFRICA NEWSFEBRUARY 24, 2011
U.S. Fears Tripoli May Deploy Gas As Chaos Mounts

By JAY SOLOMON

WASHINGTON—The government of Col. Moammar Gadhafi hasn't destroyed significant stockpiles of mustard gas and other chemical-weapons agents, raising fears in Washington about what could happen to them—and whether they may be used—as Libya slides further into chaos.

Tripoli also maintains control of aging Scud B missiles, U.S. officials said, as well as 1,000 metric tons of uranium yellowcake and vast amounts of conventional weapons that Col. Gadhafi has channeled in the past to militants operating in countries like Sudan and Chad.

Current and former U.S. officials said in interviews that Washington's counterproliferation operations against Libya over the past decade have scored gains, in particular the dismantling of Tripoli's nascent nuclear-weapons program and its Scud C missile stockpiles. But the level of instability in Libya, and Col. Gadhafi's history of brutality, continues to make the U.S. focus on the arms and chemical agents that remain, they said.

"When you have a guy who's as irrational as Gadhafi with some serious weapons at his disposal, it's always a concern," said a U.S. official. "But we haven't yet seen him move to use any kind of mustard gas or chemical weapon" during the unrest.

...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704520504576162820431712238.html

Feb 24, 2011
Gadhafi says he's only a 'symbolic leader,' blames unrest on al-Qaeda

Update at 9:49 a.m. ET: At one point, Moammar Gadhafi compares his rule to that of the queen of England, who has been on the throne for 52 years but does not wield real political power.

"Queen Elizabeth has ruled longer than I have and nothing has happened to her, no one has bothered her," he says, speaking by phone on state TV.

"I have become more of a symbolic leader. ... I don't have the same authority to impose or force rules upon the people," Gadhafi says.

He says Libya has institutions that handle issues of the state "and those should look after these issues."

...

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/02/fighting-breaks-out-30-miles-west-of-libyan-capital/1

Libyan League for Human Rights (LLHR)

Press Release


American Citizen Detained in Libya

February 23, 2011

At least one American citizen has been detained in the Libyan uprising. LLHR calls upon the Libyan government to immediately release all political prisoners currently in government custody.

Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that her primary concern was the safety of American nationals in Libya. LLHR calls upon the American government to pressure the Gaddafi regime to release Gibani Abdelgader Gibani, an American citizen toward whom the US bears a particularly marked responsibility.



Gibani Abdelgader Gibani was detained at Amanatul Ta’adil Courthouse on February 19th. He was following up on a claim he had filed three years ago regarding family assets seized by the government. After being arrested, Gibani, who suffers from high blood pressure, lost consciousness. He was taken to Ma’ateega hospital, located inside Tripoli’s Military Base. He is currently being held at the hospital and is accompanied by two guards.

Gibani’s detention, even in a military hospital, is cause for alarm, particularly given numerous reports of injured protesters being killed inside hospitals in recent days.

Gibani’s American passport number is 039-340-365.

LLHR is requesting that its members phone the State Department to make an appeal on Gibani’s behalf and to demand that the US freeze all assets of the Gaddafi family. The State Department’s phone number is 1-202-647-4000. They can also be contacted online: http://contact-us.state.gov/

LLHR calls for the immediate release of Gibani and all other political prisoners in Libya, and for an end to the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Libya, which has caused up to 1,000 deaths since the beginning of last week.

Press Contact:

Yasmeen Ar-Rayani

(646) 812 7715

y.arrayani@gmail.com

For more information visit: Libyan League for Human Rights الرابطة الليبية لحقوق الإنسان



http://feb17.info/media/urgent-american-citizen-detained-in-libya/

Mapping Violence Against Pro-Democracy Protests in Libya
This map has been created by compiling reports from trusted accounts on Twitter. Nonetheless, these reports are in general unconfirmed. This information should be considered in the context of there being absolutely no independent media in Libya at this time. This map is not automatically produced. Each posting is considered before it is mapped. These considerations have evolved over time as conditions on the ground have changed. If you have any questions you can contact me via Twitter @Arasmus.

Because of the difficulty in properly translating Arabic town-names into English, reports including latitude and longitude data are preferred. Watch this video to see how to find latitude and longitude using Google Maps:

http://youtu.be/krWf2ZVw6_M

You can also hear up-to-the-minute personal audio reports from people inside Libya by visiting:

http://audioboo.fm/feb17voices
256,563 views - Public
Created on Feb 15 - Updated 3 minutes ago

Libya rebels isolate Gaddafi, seizing cities and oilfields
Dictator hemmed in by popular protests and unable to extend his rule beyond Tripoli as local committees take charge

Martin Chulov in Benghazi
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 24 February 2011 13.41 GMT


Libyans celebrate atop a captured army vehicle in the eastern city of Shahat. Photograph: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters


Opposition activists are increasing the pressure on Muammar Gaddafi's ailing regime, shutting down oil exports and mobilising rebel groups in the west of the country as the revolution rapidly spreads.

Gaddafi's hold on power appears confined to parts of Tripoli and perhaps several regions in the centre of the country. Towns to the west of the capital have fallen and all of eastern Libya is firmly in opposition hands.

In Benghazi, the country's second city, basic order is returning to the streets after days of fierce fighting that resulted in the military defecting en masse. Virtually all government buildings were looted and wrecked.

There are long lines outside closed banks as people try to resume normal life. Cars have returned to city streets but almost all shops remain closed and the internet is blocked.

...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/24/libya-rebels-control-gaddafi-oilfields?CMP=twt_gu

Big Libya oil terminals in rebel hands: residents
Posted on February 24, 2011 by main

10:40am EST
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Key Libyan oil and oil product terminals to the east of the capital are in the hands of rebels who have seized control from leader Muammar Gaddafi, said residents of Benghazi who are in touch with people in region.

The residents told Reuters Thursday the oil and product terminals at Ras Lanuf and Marsa El Brega were being protected.

...

“Regarding Ras Lanuf, a large port for exporting oil, and el Brega, and the gas pipelines from the desert to the ports … the (anti-Gaddafi) revolutionaries have taken control of them,” said Karim, a 65-year-old lawyer involved in committees set up to run Benghazi that is now outside Gaddafi’s rule, said.

...

“The revolutionaries are protecting these areas because they are vital areas. We don’t want them sabotaged and we don’t want them to stop exporting oil,” Karim added.

...

http://feb17.info/media/big-libya-oil-terminals-in-rebel-hands-residents/

BREAKING: Gaddafi regime planning sabotage actions.
Posted on February 24, 2011 by admin
Libya’s national TV station has just announced this breaking news:

“تم ضبط تسجيلات صوتية بين بعض اعضاء القاعدة والمنتسبين إليها في مدينة الزاوية تهدف إلى القيام بعمليات تخريبية”

“URGENT: Voice records have been seized in the hands of Al Qaeda members and its members in the city of Alzawia aiming to carry out sabotage actions.”

This was announced shortly after one of Libya’s top political analysts told Al Jazeera that he had received confirmed intel that Gaddafi’s regime plans on orchestrating car explosions and other acts of sabotage in order to lead people into believing that Al Qaeda is now active in Libya and plans to establish an Islamic State.

The world must know that if such actions do happen, Al Qaeda and their allies were not behind them, and that the Gaddafi regime is the one to blame.

http://www.libyafeb17.com/?p=2295

• Zawiya – as we reported earlier army units and militiamen loyal to Muammar Gaddafi attacked a mosque where protesters were holding an anti-government sit-in. Ten people were killed and around 150 wounded, according to a doctor there. Rebels had been camped at Souq mosque for days. Soldiers opened fire with automatic weapons and hit the minaret with an anti-aircraft gun, a witness said. Zawiya, which is around 40 miles west of Tripoli, is a key city near an oil port and refineries. After the attack, thousands of people rallied in Martyrs’ Square by the mosque shouting “leave, leave” in reference to Gaddafi, according to the news agency.

• Misrata – Gaddafi loyalists battled with demonstrators who had seized control of the airport in Libya’s third largest city, which is 125 miles east of Tripoli along the coast. Rebels claimed control of the city yesterday and today militiamen with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars fired at a line of them guarding the airport. During the fighting, the airport’s defenders seized an anti-aircraft gun used by the militias and turned it against them, according to AP. A medical official said two people were killed, one from each side, and five wounded. He added: “Now Misrata is totally under control of the people, but we are worried because we squeezed between Sirte and Tripoli, which are strongholds of Gaddafi.”

• Tripoli – Pro-Gaddafi militiamen – a mix of Libyans and foreign mercenaries – have clamped down on the city since the Libyan leader went on state TV on Tuesday night and called on his supporters to take back the streets. Residents say militiamen roam Tripoli’s main avenues, firing the air, while neighbourhood watch groups have barricaded side streets trying to keep the fighters out and protesters lay low.

• Ahmed Gadhaf al-Dam, a cousin and close aide to the Libyan leader, announced he had defected to Egypt in protest against Gaddafi’s crackdown against protesters. Gaddafi’s son Saif claimed today that the reported death tolls have been exaggerated, although he didn’t provide his own figure. In a press conference aired on state TV, he said the number killed by police and the army had been limited and “talking about hundreds and thousands killed is a joke”.

http://feb17.info/confirmed/this-just-in/