Bedtime for Qhadhafi?

[Watser?]

There are reports of fighting in Tajoura in the east of Tripoli. That was one of the first areas liberated, maybe Qadhafi hardcore taking revenge?

Also talk of a counter-offensive on Zuwara, near the Tunisian border on the coastal road.

[Watser?]

I think everyone is astonished it went this rapidly. The plan was pretty good, but I think they counted on 2 or 3 days of heavy fighting at least.

[fragment]

Wow.

Good luck for the future, Libya.

[livius drusus]

frag just signed Libya's yearbook.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

Today we are seeing images of how the democratic European governments - well some of them are (democratic) - are practically demolishing Tripoli with their bombs and the supposedly democratic government of the United States, because they feel like it.

Today they dropped I don't know how many bombs and they are dropping them indiscriminately and openly... over schools, hospitals, houses, businesses, factories, farms. And we call on God to bring peace of the Libyan people and the people of the world.

- BBC News - In quotes: Reactions as rebels reach Tripoli

[Watser?]

Some updates:

3 sons have now been confirmed captured: Saif al Islam, Mohammed and Saadi.

The prime minister of the Qadhafi regime is in Djerba Tunisia. Unclear if he will be arrested.

State television is finally in rebel hands. They have also turned the internet back on, which had been off since February.

Sirte is under seige.

Al Jazeera's sources confirm that electricity to the city has been cut and communications disrupted and senior Gaddafi officials have taken refuge there. Amongst them is the Information Minister Ali al Kilani.

Libya - Aug 22, 2011 - 19:10 | Al Jazeera Blogs

There are still snipers and some isolated pockets of resistance in Tripoli. Bab al Azaziyah compound is still in Qadhafi loyalist hands.

[Watser?]

Also, here's a background piece on the chairman of the National Temporary Council (NTC), Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil, who was minister of Justice under Qadhafi until February when he was the first to resign over the shooting of unarmed protesters. He's a lawyer:

After graduating, Mr Abdul Jalil worked as a lawyer in the public prosecutor’s office in Bayda before becoming a judge in 1978. In 2002, he was appointed president of the Court of Appeal. His final post before being named justice minister in 2007 was president of the court in Bayda.
“I have never seen an Arab minister of justice who will publicly criticise the most powerful security agencies in the country” Heba Morayef Human Rights Watch

During his career as a judge, he was known for ruling consistently against the government, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Such a reputation led to him being brought into the regime by Col Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, to cast it and himself in a more reform-minded light.

As justice minister, Mr Abdul Jalil won praise from human rights groups and Western powers for his efforts to reform Libya’s criminal code.

According to a leaked US diplomatic cable from January 2010, he was well regarded by staff at the Libyan justice ministry and several judges, who considered him fair, while US ambassador Gene Cretz described a meeting with him as “positive and encouraging”.

http://shabablibya.org/news/libya-cr...fa-abdul-jalil

[Watser?]

Good news for liv: according to Al Jazeera Ghadames, including the old town, is in the hands of soldiers who have joined the rebellion.

[livius drusus]

[Watser?]

Al Jazeera Arabic says 2 dead bodies have been found, believed to be Khamis Qadhafi and Abdullah Sanussi (chief of secret service, 2nd in command and brother in law of Muammar Qadahafi).

[Watser?]

A NATO warplane shot down a scud missile fired from Sirte, Muammar Gaddafi's home city east of Tripoli, Al-Jazeera TV reported on Monday citing information received by one of its correspondents.

Gaddafi's forces, battling a rebellion that is on the verge of toppling the long-time leader, had fired a scud missile earlier in the August which landed in the desert and hurt no one.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaN...7JM26X20110822

Sirte could still be a problem. Misrata troops are 70 km to the west of Sirte now, they say. Other Misrata troops have reached Tripoli after liberating al Khums, according to a journalist who rode with them (forgot who, but this is pretty well confirmed).

[Vivisectus]

I am following this on the different news stations too, but I find the coverage provided by Radio Watser much more enjoyable.

[Watser?]

[Sock Puppet]

Originally Posted by Watser?

3 sons have now been confirmed captured: Saif al Islam, Mohammed and Saadi.

Apparently the confirmation on Seif was a mistake.

Seif al-Islam's sudden — even surreal — arrival at a Tripoli hotel where foreign journalists are staying threw the situation in the capital into confusion. The appearance of Gadhafi's son and former heir apparent underlined the potential for the longtime Libyan leader, whose whereabouts remain unknown, to strike back even as his grip on power seemed to be slipping fast.

...

The rebel leadership seemed stunned that Seif al-Islam was free. A spokesman, Sadeq al-Kabir, had no explanation and could only say, "This could be all lies."

He could not confirm whether Seif al-Islam escaped rebel custody, but he did say that another captured Gadhafi son, Mohammed, had escaped the home arrest that rebels had placed him in a day earlier. On Monday, the rebels had said Seif al-Islam was captured, but did not give details on where he was held.

So Seif is safe for now. (Oh damn that was bad.)

[Watser?]

Yeah, there are weird things going on. I am pretty sure the news that he was captured was real, it was confirmed by the ICC for chrissakes, how reliable does it have to be.
But in the end it is not important in military terms. It just fucks with peoples' minds.

Columns of Misrata rebels have liberated al-Khums and about 2000 have reached Tripoli. These are highly experienced fighters by now, who know how to deal with snipers and heavy weapons.

Also the eastern front is finally moving toward Sirte. They have taken Ras Lanuf and are now in Bin Jawad (yes, again, but this time Q had no forces that can counter-attack).

So yeah, IMO this is still mopping up operations. Just more of it and more tenacious resistance than I expected. But once they have Qadhafi, it's all over.

You see, the good news is that it is now very likely that Q is in Bab al Aziziyah. and they are entering it right now. It will probably take them days to get the bunker smoked out (there are most likely tunnels to the Rixos hotel and there may be a wide complex of tunnels under Tripoli).

[Watser?]

Here's a video the Zintan Brigade (from the Western Mountains) took at the international airport. They captured Qadhafi's plane too:

Freedom Fighters Gain Full Control of the Airport...

[Watser?]

SkyNews now reporting the Bab al Aziziyah compound has been taken by Freedom Fighters. I am not sure they have the whole thing though. Tunnels need checking out.

[Watser?]

Pictures now from inside the compound, the Freedom Fighters are now at the monument with the fist grabbing the airplane. Inside the compound that is. No fighting, just cheering right now.

[Watser?]

They still haven't captured the Qadhafis. They don't seem to be in the compound, unless they are in the tunnels. There are still some parts of Tripoli that they don't control (notably the Rixos hotel and the area around it), but this is a major coup again.

Outside of Tripoli the siege of Zuwara is over apparently. It's basically Sirte and Sabha in the south, as predicted. Sirte is surrounded from all sides I think, at least from east and west. Sabha, I am not sure. There are opposition forces in the south, but not sure on their strength.

[Sidhe]

Originally Posted by Watser?

They still haven't captured the Qadhafis. They don't seem to be in the compound, unless they are in the tunnels. There are still some parts of Tripoli that they don't control (notably the Rixos hotel and the area around it), but this is a major coup again.

Outside of Tripoli the siege of Zuwara is over apparently. It's basically Sirte and Sabha in the south, as predicted. Sirte is surrounded from all sides I think, at least from east and west. Sabha, I am not sure. There are opposition forces in the south, but not sure on their strength.

Of course not where did they find Saddam Hussein?

Evil Dictator 101, go put on a Sith Lord costume or somit and blend in.

[Watser?]

Alex Crawford on SkyNews is now interviewing a rebel who is wearing Qadhafi's hat and his bling, hehehe. Also has a sort of scepter thing.

[Watser?]

[Watser?]

Rebels are fighting Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists for control of Sabha, an important city in Libya's southern desert that is likely to be his last stronghold, a senior rebel spokesman said on Tuesday.

Colonel Ahmed Bani, a senior rebel military spokesman, told Al-Arabiya television that the rebels were currently negotiating with tribal leaders in Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, for the surrender of the Mediterranean coastal city without bloodshed.

"There is a vicious battle between the free Libyans (rebels) and remnants of the tyrant," Bani told Arabiya after rebels entered Gaddafi's main stronghold of Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli. "Sabha will be the last stronghold for him."

...

Referring to the situation in Sirte, Bani said: "Regarding Sirte, there are negotiations now for the entry of the rebels to the city without bloodshed from either side."

http://af.reuters.com/article/egyptN...7JN27R20110823

[Watser?]

Libyan rebels seized control of the Abu Salim neighbourhood of Tripoli late on Tuesday, a senior rebel spokesman said, referring to one of Muammar Gaddafi's main bastions of support in the Libyan capital.

Colonel Ahmed Bani also told al-Arabiya TV that rebels believed the Libyan leader was probably hiding in one of many hideouts in Tripoli.

"About an hour ago, the Abu Salim district was controlled," Bani said.

http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaN...7JN28K20110823

[Watser?]

Hatguy!