Libya Rolling Updates Sunday 27 Feb

Zawiya seems to be surrounded by pro-Gadaffi army. BBC world Jeremy Bowen.

Twitter = twickup. Works, not, works, not...

BelgianBoy wrote:Zawiya seems to be surrounded by pro-Gadaffi army. BBC world Jeremy Bowen.

ugh... major crackdown in 2 towns imminent?


thats a good one!

ShababLibya:
We would urge the media not to refer to the protesters as rebels, but as the pro democracy or simply Libyan people

----
I always felt a little bothered when MSN started calling the demonstrators "rebels" etc.. and in the same second showing footage from angry and shouting people who are presenting bullets and weapons to the camera.. (which they were shot at.. they didnt use them) ..but it gives some wrong impressions..

BelgianBoy wrote:Twitter = twickup. Works, not, works, not...

if its not working or having probs..

jump to mobile.twitter.com

Lurker wrote:

BelgianBoy wrote:Zawiya seems to be surrounded by pro-Gadaffi army. BBC world Jeremy Bowen.

ugh... major crackdown in 2 towns imminent?


thats a good one!

ShababLibya:
We would urge the media not to refer to the protesters as rebels, but as the pro democracy or simply Libyan people

----
I always felt a little bothered when MSN started calling the demonstrators "rebels" etc.. and in the same second showing footage from angry and shouting people who are presenting bullets and weapons to the camera.. (which they were shot at.. they didnt use them) ..but it gives some wrong impressions..

I think it spreads further than 2 towns, judging by reports. Quite a major offensive

Lurker wrote:

BelgianBoy wrote:Twitter = twickup. Works, not, works, not...

if its not working or having probs..

jump to mobile.twitter.com

I did, thks to u yesterday(?)
It's just that I am so used to it...

ABC International reporting that Libyan soldiers gained the confidence of protesters and then, when among the crowd of unarmed protesters, began shooting at them.

Did I misunderstand? Are there other reports confirming?

Janey wrote:

I think it spreads further than 2 towns, judging by reports. Quite a major offensive

If unconventional weapons are used and mass murder comitted, intervention is possible.
Janey, any comments? I know contingency planning is likely.

US wrote:
ABC International reporting that Libyan soldiers gained the confidence of protesters and then, when among the crowd of unarmed protesters, began shooting at them.

Did I misunderstand? Are there other reports confirming?

Saw that yesterday. Never got confirmed. Desinfo?

US wrote:
ABC International reporting that Libyan soldiers gained the confidence of protesters and then, when among the crowd of unarmed protesters, began shooting at them.

Did I misunderstand? Are there other reports confirming?

That one incident happened about 2 or 3 days ago.

The Free Libyans do have an ever increasingly organised and well-equipped military.

VoltAlcantara: @cesdrilon @Karen_DaviLa @mlq3 Got phone call from OFW Jose Mendoza in Misurata #Libya. They don't want to wait (cont) http://tl.gd/91f4hq
9 minutes ago via Osfoora HD

HMS Cumberland back in Benghazi. She will leave at dusk so anyone wishing to travel are advised to board now

Spotting_Zebras ‎ Gaddafi obviously launches Sunday military offensive towards Misurata and Zawiyah. Time to move in on Surt from the east now? #Libya
Twitter - 46
46 seconds ago

‎ zzavia ‎ Infromation for lybian fredom fighters in cities Zawiya , Misurata use molotov cocktail to burn down the tanks ..use molotov cocktail
Twitter - 65
1 minute ago

Has there been any air traffic in/out of Tripoli?

OuiamY: 80% of #Libya in hands of the anti government protesters! Insallah the other 20% follow soon. #feb17 #tripoli #Gadaffi #Zawiyah
8 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®

The problem is that if both sides have a well equipped army then the battles are likely be protracted and bloody.

BelgianBoy wrote:

Janey wrote:

I think it spreads further than 2 towns, judging by reports. Quite a major offensive

If unconventional weapons are used and mass murder comitted, intervention is possible.
Janey, any comments? I know contingency planning is likely.

yes, they are building up quite a large force in the Med. It is almost a certainty that if chemical or biological weaponry is used then there will be a major intervention.

UK 'working intensively' to establish how many Britons remain stranded

A daring rescue operation by Special Forces flew scores of British citizens out of Libya last night as the net closed in on Col Muammar Gaddafi.

Britain has revoked the diplomatic immunity of the Libyan leader and his family, Mr Hague said as he echoed calls by US President Barack Obama for Col Gaddafi to step down.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously voted earlier to refer the brutal repression of the popular Libyan uprising to the International Criminal Court.

Sanctions also included a freeze on the assets of Mr Gaddafi and his immediate family and a global travel ban on the embattled ruler and his close associates.

The Foreign Secretary said the rescue mission was launched without the permission of the Gaddafi administration and would not speculate on whether further such operations were planned

Asked if the Libyan leader could remain in power, Mr Hague told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: ''We have here a country descending into civil war, with atrocious scenes of killing of protesters and a government actually making war on its own so of course it is time for Colonel Gaddafi to go. That is the best hope for Libya.

''And last night I signed a directive revoking his diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom but also the diplomatic immunity of his sons, his family, his household.

''So it is very clear where we stand on his status as the head of state.''

The Foreign Office believes "very few" Britons remain in the capital Tripoli and second city Benghazi – where HMS Cumberland returns today to pick up any more evacuees.

But upwards of 300 are thought still to be in remote desert oil areas – with fresh military-based rescue missions thought to be planned.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8350308/Libya-UK-working-intensively-to-establish-how-many-Britons-remain-stranded.html

Janey wrote:

BelgianBoy wrote:

Janey wrote:

I think it spreads further than 2 towns, judging by reports. Quite a major offensive

If unconventional weapons are used and mass murder comitted, intervention is possible.
Janey, any comments? I know contingency planning is likely.

yes, they are building up quite a large force in the Med. It is almost a certainty that if chemical or biological weaponry is used then there will be a major intervention.

Do you think an intervention is possible without that? Especially since it seems that the UN are unwilling to agree to the use of force?

Of course if chemical weapons are used I don't think the UN would have any choice.

apologies if I post stuff that youve already posted

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Ex-Libyan-Justice-Minister-Forms-Caretaker-Govt-in-East-117005953.html

Libya's former justice minister says he has formed a transitional government based in the country's east, the focal point of an uprising against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil made the announcement in an interview with Qatar-based television network Al-Jazeera late Saturday.

flick wrote:Has there been any air traffic in/out of Tripoli?

AlMasryAlYoum_E‎ EgyptAir to operate 35 flights to return Egyptians escaping Libya violence #Egyptair #Libya #Egypt
EgyptAir to operate 35 flights to return Egyptians escaping Libya ...‎ - almasryalyoum.com
Twitter - seconds ago

"Confirmed the Banks in #Tripoli given 500 lyd for each family book"


What is a "family book?" Is this akin to Gadaffi's "green book?"

confirmation from my sources that there ARE still people in need of rescue in desert locations, including UK and US civilians