People should ask themselves why Libya is so resilient and why the Rebels need so much foreign support for bombing fellow Libyans. If there really was so much popular support the uprising would have ended many months ago.
Israel's social protest leaders form own expert team
Protesters' formation of expert team coincides with first meeting of Netanyahu's Team for Socio-economic Change; about 200 people protest rising electricity tariffs outside PM's residence in Jerusalem.
Iraq haunts plans for post-Gaddafi Libya
The 70-page plan, obtained by London's The Times, charts the first months after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. The document was drawn up by the National Transition Council in Benghazi with Western help.
Gadhafi Officials: NATO Bombs Kill 85 Civilians
A Reuters reporter saw 30 bodies at a hospital in nearby Zlitan, some of which contained the remains of children. "They (NATO) do not differentiate between soldiers, children and old people," said medical student Abdulkader Al-Hawali, in residency at the hospital.
Tripoli says NATO strike kills dozens of civilians
Libyan officials said on Tuesday dozens of civilians had been killed in a NATO strike on a cluster of farmhouses east of Tripoli, but the alliance said it hit a legitimate military target.
Syria defies critics with new raids
The Syrian army launched more raids on protest strongholds today, defying growing international criticism over the regime's deadly crackdown. Turkey's foreign minister met President Bashar Assad to express his concern.
August 08, 2011
UN official deplores NATO attack on Libyan television station
The head of the United Nations agency entrusted with safeguarding press freedom today deplored a recent North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attack on Libyan State broadcasting facilities last month which killed three media workers and injured 21 people.
Saudi king recalls ambassador and demands end to Syria bloodshed
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has demanded an end to the bloodshed in Syria and recalled his country's ambassador from Damascus, in a rare case of one of the Arab world's most powerful leaders intervening against another.
Rebels in captured town plan push towards Tripoli
Libyan rebels who seized the town of Bir al-Ghanam 80 km (50 miles) south of Tripoli said on Monday they would push on toward the capital, Muammar Gaddafi's stronghold, but expected a tough fight.
Libyan rebel leader sacks cabinet after general's death
Libya's rebel leader Mustafa Abdeljalil disbanded the executive committee of his de-facto government Monday, after the assassination of a top rebel general sparked a major political crisis.
Shifting loyalties among Libya's Islamists
The shifting battle lines of the anti-Gaddafi struggle have seen old Libyan Islamist fighters regroup and reconfigure their agendas to join the rebel ranks of the current uprising.
Saudi Arabia's message to Syria, decoded It is Iranian influence, not the killing of civilians, that Saudi Arabia is concerned about as it recalls its ambassador in Syria
Back home, King Abdullah has shown no inclination towards the "quick and comprehensive reforms" that he is now urging upon Syria; Saudi Arabia has nothing to teach Syria about democracy, and protest demonstrations in the kingdom are totally banned. So the king's message to Syria betrays more than a little irony.
They Died in Vain; Deal With It
Many of those preaching at American church services Sunday extolled as "heroes" the 30 American and 8 Afghan troops killed Saturday west of Kabul, when a helicopter on a night mission crashed, apparently after taking fire from Taliban forces. This week, the Fawning Corporate Media (FCM) can be expected to beat a steady drumbeat of "they shall not have died in vain." But they did. I know it is a hard truth, but they did die in vain.
Freed ex-Bahraini MPs tortured in prison
Two newly-released former Bahraini opposition lawmakers say they have been tortured while in detention by the regime forces.
Bahrain Releases Two Former Lawmakers
Two former lawmakers from Bahrain's Shiite opposition were freed from jail on Sunday with several others who were arrested in the wake of widespread antigovernment protests.
Fighting rages on several Libyan fronts
Opposition under attack near Zlitan in north, while Gaddafi fighters launch operation to retake Bir al-Ghanam in west.
Kadhafi forces report gains, launch offensive
Rebels in the western Libyan town of Zliten were said to be low on ammunition and on the defensive on Sunday, as the regime said its forces had retaken the strategic southwest town of Bir Ghanam.
Libya and Universal Human Rights
Humanity is at a crossroads in Libya. It has been coming for a long time and in Libya, it has arrived. Finally, the greyish mists which have been clouding our skies have lifted and what is happening is crystal clear...and humankind has a decision to make, and fast. The situation demands not voyeurism and comments, but action. Now!
Allies consider new Syria moves
The US, French and German leaders pledged to consider new steps to punish Syria after security forces shot dead at least 16 people as tens of thousands staged anti-regime protests on the first Friday of Ramadan.
Yemen president leaves hospital but to stay in Saudi
YEMENI President Ali Abdullah Saleh left hospital on Saturday, more than two months after he was wounded in a bombing at his Sanaa residence, but he will remain in Riyadh, a Saudi official told AFP.
Abu Ghraib abuse ringleader released
The convicted ringleader of detainee abuses at Abu Ghraib has been released from a US military prison, an army spokeswoman said. Charles Graner Jr was released on Saturday from the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after serving more than six and a half years of a 10-year sentence, spokeswoman Rebecca Steed said.
Libyans struggle to cope with blackouts, gas shortages
The alleys and archways along Rashid Street in central Tripoli were plunged in darkness this weekend, as the Libyan capital struggled to cope with widespread shortages of electricity.
Libya rebels say town captured on path to Tripoli
Libyan rebels surged down from the mountains south of Tripoli on Saturday, claiming the capture of a strategic town on the path to the capital and pushing toward the Mediterranean.
Libya rebels say they are advancing on Brega
Libyan rebels Saturday said they had launched a push to capture the coastal oil town of Brega, but were advancing slowly because Muammar Gaddafi's forces had sown minefields across its approaches.
Qatari plane supplies ammunition to Libya rebels
A Qatari plane made a quick stop in the rebel-held Libyan city of Misrata on Saturday to offload ammunition destined for rebel fighters, sources with knowledge of the flight said.
Libyan Government Distances Itself from Seif's Comment's About Alliance With Radical Islamists
Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi's son's comments in an interview to the USA daily newspaper, The New York Times, in which he vowed to strike an alliance with a faction of radical Islamists among the rebels, did not appear to go down too well with the Libyan government. It has distanced itself from Seif al-Islam's views.
Syrian dead litter city streets
SYRIAN security forces are summarily executing people on the streets of Hama, a human rights group says, raising fears that bloodshed could escalate dramatically in the besieged city.
Bahrain to free 147 prisoners
147 Bahraini detainees are set to be released within a matter of hours, the head of the kingdom's independent commission of inquiry told The Washington Times in a phone interview Saturday night.
Pakistan TV Report Contradicts US Claim of Bin Laden's Death
In my recent article, "Creating Evidence Where There Is None," about the alleged killing of Osama bin Laden by a commando team of US Seals in Abbottabad, Pakistan, I provided a link to a Pakistani National TV interview with Muhammad Bashir, who lives next door to the alleged "compound" of Osama bin Laden. I described the story that Bashir gave of the "attack" and its enormous difference from the one told by the US government. In Bashair's account, every member of the landing party and anyone brought from the house died when the helicopter exploded on lift-off. I wrote that a qualified person could easily provide a translation of the interview, but that no American print or TV news organization had investigated Bashir's account.
August 05, 2011
NATO bombing raises ire
NATO's mission to protect civilian lives in Libya has been called into question after it admitted carrying out an air strike in a coastal town in which a mother and two children were killed.
Libya: children killed in Nato air strike on Zlitan
The Libyan government shows journalists the bodies of two children and their mother who it claims were killed in a Nato air strike in the coastal town of Zlitan.
Russia warns Syrian leader he may face 'sad fate'
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday he has warned Syria's leader that he will face a "sad fate" if he fails to introduce reforms in his country and open a peaceful dialogue with the opposition.
NATO plans campaign in Syria, tightens noose around Iran - Rogozin
NATO is planning a military campaign against Syria to help overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad with a long-reaching goal of preparing a beachhead for an attack on Iran, Russia's envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said.
WikiLeaks Cables Show US Strategy for Regime Change in Syria
In the aftermath of a massacre in Hama, Syria state media broadcasted images of "burnt, buildings, makeshift barricades and deserted streets strewn with rubble," according to the New York Times and claimed the revolt in Syria has ended. Meanwhile, The Guardian reports tens of thousands have taken to the streets all over the country and are continuing a five-months old uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
S. Sudan says oil cargo released but talks stalled
South Sudan's oil minister said on Saturday that an oil cargo detained by northern officials in Port Sudan in a row over duty payments had now sailed, but that negotiations over transit fees were stalled.
Blast, followed by fire, hits Iran oil pipeline
Iranian news agencies say an explosion has struck an oil pipeline in the oil-rich southwest province of Khuzestan, triggering a blaze that took firefighters hours to put out.
Bahrain: An island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf where the Shia Muslim majority are ruled by a family from the Sunni minority. Where people fighting for democratic rights broke the barriers of fear, only to find themselves alone and crushed.
Prominent Norwegian peace researcher criticises Libyan war
Questions remain over Norway's involvement in the conflict, even after the return of Norway's last four F-16s. Mr Harpviken believes that it was not Norway's place to get involved. "I'm afraid the operation in Libya may prove to be a step back," he said, commenting on politicians' justification of the Libyan operation by citing UN resolution 1973.
Gaddafi: "Stop the bloodshed, let Libya return as it was: free, dignified and peaceful"
"Good afternoon sons of Tarhouna, the brave Tarhouna which routed the armies ofItaly, which is ready now to crush the forces of NATO. We were determined to crush this unjust campaign and to face up to this war which was imposed on us. The war which is being waged with the aim of killing us and occupying our country. Let the West know that we are ready to die in millions but we will not surrender in disgrace.
Moscow warns against interference in Syrian conflict
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned against outside interference in the Syrian conflict, saying the country's citizens should solve their problems themselves.
Libyan state television has broadcast a defiant message from Colonel Gaddafi's son, at a time when the conflict shows signs of getting mired in stalemate.
Libyan rebels face schism as Zliten attack is repelled
The unity of Libya's revolutionaries became the latest casualty on Wednesday of the shock assassination of a top general, as a key rebel group demanded senior ministers and military brass be fired.
Impeach President Obama Over Libya? Jon Huntsman Punts
Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, the 2012 GOP contender with the most foreign policy experience, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Obama administration's decision to intervene in Libya.
IFJ Condemns NATO Bombing at Libyan Television
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the NATO air strikes against Libyan state television which took place last Saturday in Tripoli, killing three journalists and injured fifteen staff members according to its director of the English service, Khalid Basilia.
Younes' tribe warns rebels over probe
The powerful tribe of the Libyan rebels' slain military commander vowed on Tuesday to find justice themselves for his suspicious killing last week if rebel leaders failed to investigate it fully.
Seven Libyan rebels killed in Gaddafi counter-attack
Forces loyal to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi killed seven rebels and wounded another 65 in a counter-attack in the town of Zlitan on Tuesday, hospital sources in Misrata said.
Little cheer in Syria as Ramadan begins
The usual nighttime cheer is missing as the unrest continues. But there's also a sense of anticipation amid hope for a knockout blow to President Bashar Assad.
August 02, 2011
UN — no authority for Paris
Russia's Foreign Ministry has opposed any manipulations of European countries with the frozen accounts of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi saying that this money can be used only following a special sanction of the UN Security Council. Moscow made such a statement after France had decided to unfreeze the accounts of the Libyan leader and to transfer almost $260 million to the Benghazi-based opposition government.
History repeats itself in Libya
Why do political leaders stride into the same trap, even having witnessed the fate of those who went before them?
Nightly Britain bombs Tripoli. Bar death, what do we achieve?
Britain's half-war against Libya is careering onward from reckless gesture to full-scale fiasco. As it reaches six months' duration, every sensibly pessimistic forecast has turned out true and every jingoistic boast false.
Killing of General Vexes Rebels in Libya
In a mourning tent for the Libyan rebels' top military leader, who was assassinated last week in mysterious circumstances, relatives and members of his tribe warned on Tuesday of dire consequences, including violence, if rebel leaders did not move quickly to find his killers.
Gadhafi Son Rules Out Ceasefire as Bloody Clashes Continue in West
Fighting continued apace in western Libya today, with reports that Gadhafi forces launched a counter-offensive around the disputed city of Zlitan, killing seven rebel troops and wounding 65 others. The city was recently sieged by rebels, albeit unsuccessfully.
Seven Libyan rebels killed in Gaddafi counter-attack
Forces loyal to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi killed seven rebels and wounded another 65 in a counter-attack in the town of Zlitan on Tuesday, hospital sources in Misrata said.
Western allies move cautiously on Libyan assets
U.S. and other nations are eager to help the Libyan rebel council gain access to Kadafi's funds frozen abroad. But they want to make sure his regime can't also get to the money.
Chavez: Venezuela firmly backing Gadhafi
President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Venezuela would not recognize the governing body of Libya's rebels, defending Moammar Gadhafi and urging his ally to stand firm against the armed movement aimed at ousting the Libyan leader.
In Syria, 'brother of a whore' gets tossed like trash
The bloodied bodies lay stuffed and tangled in the back of a pickup like garbage. Men lifted the bodies one by one and hurled from them from a bridge into a river below as cursing filled the air.
Syria: The Last Chapter of the "Conspiracy"
Since the beginning of the uprising in Syria four and a half months ago, the Syrian regime's description of the events and the way it dealt with them ranged from talk about the "conspiracy" that the country is being subjected to because it is one of the pillars of "opposition" in the region on the one hand; and talk about the need for reform in order to respond to the demands of the protestors on the other.
President Obama said that Gaddafi's regime was going to cause a bloodbath in Libya. Professor Alan J Kuperman of the University at Texas argues, however, that the president's claims were exaggerated and that the civil war should be over by now. One month after they intervened, NATO and the US have not put an end to a war that otherwise would have resolved itself.
August 01, 2011
McKinney: NATO Bombs Libya Water Facilities
NATO has "bombed the facility that supplies 70 percent of the drinking water for Libya," Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney told a capacity crowd at the Church of the Black Madonna, in Atlanta. "They did the same thing in Iraq, and this is a war crime." McKinney's "Eyewitness Libya" tour has been visiting cities around the country. She recalled how, when she was running for re-election in 2006, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said she was not a team player. "I'm happy to not be on the team of more crimes against humanity and crimes against the people of this country," said McKinney. "I will never be on the team of war. I am on the peace team."
NATO too stupid to face reality
With the controversial death of Abdel Fatah Younis, it has become glaringly apparent that the NTC is a fractured, disorganized mess of incompetence that cannot even keep its own people under control, much less run a country. But try telling that to the foot in the mouth government of the United Kingdom, or that Napoleon wannabe Sarkozy.
Norway Withdraws Jets from Libya Ops: Military
OSLO — Norway on Aug. 1 withdrew as planned its final four F-16 fighter jets that have been taking part in the NATO-led mission over Libya, the Norwegian military said.
Gadhafi thanks Venezuela's Chavez for support
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi sent him a letter thanking his allies in Latin America for their staunch support. Chavez read aloud portions of the letter on national television. He also said Venezuela would not recognize the governing body of Libya's rebels, and he urged Gadhafi to stand firm in his fight.
In war-torn Libya, no pause for Ramadan
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began here at a lonely outpost on the front lines, as rebel forces broke their daylight fast with a handful of dates, a glass of milk and a couple of rocket launches.
France hands Libya rebels $259 mln in unfrozen funds
France will place $259 million at the disposal of Libya's National Transition Council (NTC) after un-freezing Libyan assets in the country, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Monday.
Libya insurgents seen losing grip
Dissident forces fought government forces in eastern Libya yesterday in the latest incident to undermine the insurgents' grip in territory they hold.
Kadhafi forces retake western village
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi were again in control on Monday of the village of Josh at the foot of the strategic western Nafusa mountains, AFP journalists at the scene said.
Five Syrians hit with EU sanctions after crackdown
The European Union on Monday extended travel bans and asset freezes to a further five Syrian nationals in response to a deadly government crackdown on regime opponents over the weekend.
July 31, 2011
NATO's Tripoli TV raid caused casualties
Authorities in Tripoli say NATO's air raid on transmitters of Libyan state television Saturday left 3 people killed and 15 injured.
Why the West is committed to the murderous rebels in Libya
In keeping with the British Government's well-established record of comical ineptitude in dealing with Libya, William Hague chose to recognise the rebel leaders in Benghazi as the legitimate government of the country at the very moment some of them may have been shooting or torturing to death their chief military commander.
Britain needs wholesale rethink of Libya war says Sir Menzies Campbell
Britain must undertake a "wholesale re-examination" of its involvement in the Nato conflict in Libya after the murder of the leader of the anti-Gaddafi forces, former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has said.
Benghazi Clash Exposes Cracks in Rebel Ranks
Rebel fighters challenging the rule of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi waged an eight-hour gunfight here in their de facto capital on Sunday, against what their leaders called a "fifth column" of Qaddafi loyalists who had posed as a rebel brigade. It was the latest sign of discord and trickery in the rebel ranks to emerge in the four days since the killing of the rebels' top military leader, Gen. Abdul Fattah Younes, a former Qaddafi confidant who had defected to their side.
Four Killed Overnight as Rebels Clash in Benghazi
At least four rebel troops were killed today and roughly 20 others wounded when rebel leadership attacked a militia's camp in the city of Benghazi. The rebels accuse the militia of being a "pro-Gadhafi group."
Govt admits Islamists may be active within Libyan rebels
Defence Secretary Liam Fox on Sunday warned that Islamist militants may have been behind last week's assassination of rebel Libyan military chief General Abdel Fatah Yunis.
Syrian protester crackdown draws harsh criticism
Syria's bloody military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters drew some of the sharpest international condemnation of the Damascus government yet on Sunday.
140 killed as Syrian tanks storm Hama
At least 140 people were killed on Sunday when the military launched an attack on the flashpoint protest city of Hama in central Syria, a human rights activist said.
Imperialists — hands off Syria!
U.S. and French imperialism have flagrantly intervened in the Syrian crisis and made it obvious that they will act to overthrow and replace President Bashir Assad. This is an open threat to the people of Syria. It is a clear signal that progressive forces in the U.S. must give priority to combating this imperialist intervention no matter how they evaluate the Assad government.
Libyan rebel soldiers killed Younis
General Abdel Fattah Younis shot dead by Islamist-linked militia within the anti-Gaddafi forces, says senior opposition minister.
Cables show NATO's intervention in Libya is all about oil
Geo-strategic considerations, arm twisting, long-term objectives and behind-the-door haggling continue to impact the global energy chess board, as national interests, political and strategic priorities and considerations of major stake holders in the ongoing, West-led, get-Qaddafi campaign in Libya unravels, the tight global energy balance is getting under pressure — at least in the short term.
Rebel feud puts UK's Libya policy in jeopardy
The credibility of the British-backed rebel forces in Libya has been thrown into doubt after the shock assassination of a top military commander led to claims that the movement is enmeshed in a bloody internal feud. Increasing evidence has begun to emerge that the savage killings of General Abdel Fatah Younes and two other senior officers — who were shot and whose bodies were burnt — may have been carried out by their own side.
Libya rebels say Younis killers were 'Islamist element'
The gunmen who shot dead the Libyan rebels' military chief Abdel Fatah Younis were members of an Islamist-linked militia allied to the campaign to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi, according to a National Transitional Council minister.
A series of almost daily speeches delivered by Muammar Gadhafi in various cities in Libya!
The level of support is enormous and I don't think there is a current leader in the world who will rival the support that Gadhafi is getting at home.
Libya: palace intrigue replaces people power
The main theme of the West's infernal intervention in Libya over the past four-and-a-half months has been the wresting of the future of this part of north Africa from the hands of the people who live there.
Gaddafi is stronger than ever in Libya
The fact Gaddafi has survived the rebellions and Nato bombing undermines the simplistic view of a hated tyrant clinging on.
Witnesses: Commander killed by fellow Libya rebels
The Libyan rebels' military commander was killed by his comrades while in custody after he was arrested by the opposition's leadership on suspicion of treason, witnesses said Friday, in a sign of disarray that posed a major setback for the movement battling Moammar Gadhafi.
Abdel Fatah Younis assassination creates division among Libya rebels
The fractious coalition fighting to oust Muammar Gaddafi was plunged into disarray on Friday as the mysterious death of the rebels' army commander sparked anger from his powerful tribe and distrust among those loyal to the cause.
McCain tells Libyan rebels: end abuses or risk US support
One of Washington's most influential senators has warned Libya's opposition administration that they risk alienating US and international support unless they take "decisive action" to halt human rights abuses by rebel fighters.
Arguing Libya, Cold War Myths, and Occult Economics
On July 9 I took part in a demonstration in front of the White House, the theme of which was "Stop Bombing Libya". The last time I had taken part in a protest against US bombing of a foreign country, which the White House was selling as "humanitarian intervention", as they are now, was in 1999 during the 78-day bombing of Serbia.
Libyan rebels say their military chief is dead
Younis and his two aides, Col. Muhammad Khamis and Nasir al-Madhkur, were gunned down before they arrived for questioning about suspicions that he and his family still had dealings with Gadhafi's regime, the head of rebel council, Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, said at a news conference.
Commander's mysterious death undermines Libyan rebels' unity
The most prominent rebel commander in Libya has been assassinated under mysterious circumstances, slain after he was dragged back to the headquarters of the National Transitional Council for questioning about his loyalty to efforts to oust Moammar Gadhafi.
Truce and transitional pact key to ending Libyan crisis — UN official
A ceasefire and the establishment of an agreement on transitional arrangements that fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people remain the only sustainable options for a political solution to the crisis in the North African country, the United Nations political chief told the Security Council today.
Disastrous Outcomes From An Orchestrated Crisis
While the world media fixates on the orchestrated debt ceiling crisis, the US government continues to bomb civilians in Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia and continues with preparations to do the same thing to Syria and Iran.
July 27, 2011
Libyan sues NATO over family deaths
A Libyan sought damages against NATO in a Belgian civil court on Wednesday, accusing the alliance of killing his wife and three children in an air strike, his lawyer said Wednesday.
Libyan rebels have conceded ground since bombing began
Fresh diplomatic efforts are under way to try to end Libya's bloody civil war, with the UN special envoy flying to Tripoli to hold talks after Britain followed France in accepting that Muammar Gaddafi cannot be bombed into exile.
More deaths, arrests in Syria crackdown
SECURITY forces in Syria have arrested so many people that the country has become a "huge prison," activists said, as the crackdown on dissent showed no signs of easing.
Do you believe that Gaddafi is killing its own people?
The Left has lost its way over Libya
I think it's time to take a look at the timeline of the latest barbarian attack on the defenceless of the world. I think it reveals far more about how the left in the West operates, what are its motivations, than it does about the aims of the Empire (which should surely by now be apparent even to a reluctant leftie). First, the 'Arab Spring' which was in fact an 'African Spring' as it kicked off in Tunisia then spread to Egypt. But this is par for the course. It used to be that all of Africa was actually in Africa but in the 19th century the Western colonialists starting moving things around a bit and all of a sudden, Egypt was an Arab country, as was Algeria, indeed all of the Mahgreb.
NATO flexible on Gaddafi's future
Western powers are signaling an increased willingness to allow Moammar Gaddafi to remain in Libya if he agrees to step down after nearly 42 years as the country's autocratic ruler, diplomats said Tuesday.
Libyan PM says airstrikes must stop before talks
Libya will not begin talks on ending a conflict with rebels before NATO air strikes stop, and Muammar Gaddafi's leadership is not up for negotiation, the prime minister said on Tuesday.
NATO Vows Continued Bombing in Libya
NATO promised to continue bombing Libya, and that the country's leader, Moammar Gadhafi, cannot "wait us out." Spokeswoman Carmen Romero said Tuesday that airstrikes will continue until Gadhafi gives up.
NATO bombs Libyan hospital
NATO aircraft has bombed out a hospital in the west of Libya, claim the local authorities. According to the latest reports, 8 people, including 3 doctors, died in the attack.
NATO: Bombing of Libya to Go On for as Long As Needed
NATO said Tuesday that the bombing of regime forces in Libya will continue for as long as needed despite growing reluctance among some countries to participate, and Muammar Al Qathafi cannot "wait us out."
U.S. Looks For Ways To Break Libya Stalemate
It's been more than four months since NATO launched an attack on Moammar Gadhafi's forces in Libya. Since then, opposition forces have gained ground with help from NATO airstrikes, but Gadhafi's military is holding firm so far.
Russia sends more humanitarian aid to Tripoli
A Russian plane carrying 36.2 tons of humanitarian aid left for the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Tuesday morning, according to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry.
Tribal Rivalries Complicate Libyan War
The rebels in western Libya have captured the Nafusa Mountains and are only 80 kilometers from Tripoli, but have been unable to advance further. Meanwhile long-simmering tribal hostilities are complicating the situation, as rival groups clash and old resentments flare up. The inter-tribal conflict adds to a growing sense that the uprising against Gadhafi is turning into a civil war.
NATO warns Kadhafi over use of civilian facilities
NATO warned on Tuesday that its warplanes will bomb former civilian facilities if Moamer Kadhafi's forces use them to launch attacks, as the UN said Libya's capital is suffering shortages of fuel, medicine and cash.
'What Will Happen After Gadhafi?'
In an interview with SPIEGEL, 81-year-old former Russian Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and chief of foreign intelligence Yevgeny Primakov discusses the situation in Libya and Russia's concerns about an "explosive trend" in NATO operations.
Israeli president says Syrian leader Assad must go
Syrian leader Bashar Assad must step down, Israel's president declared Tuesday, sending his message to Israel's neighbor at an unprecedented news conference with Arab media.
Iran draws the line with Turkey on Syria
In a sign of growing Iranian misgiving about Turkey's role in Middle Eastern affairs, Tehran has decided to throw its weight behind the embattled Syrian regime, even if that translates into a setback in relations between Tehran and Ankara.
July 25, 2011
Rebel Chief: Gadhafi and Family Can Remain in Libya
The head of Libya's opposition movement says leader Moammar Gadhafi and his family may stay in the country as long as they give up power, and rebel leaders determine where and under what conditions they remain.
Germany Finances Libyan Rebels with 100 Million Euro
The German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle confirmed yesterday, 24. July, that the Federal Government has granted the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) a loan of 100 M Euro (144 M Dollars).
Kadhafi counter-attack repulsed, Tripoli bombed
Forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi launched a counter-offensive on rebels in the southwest on Sunday but were repulsed, after NATO warplanes blitzed military targets in the capital.
Germany lends Libyan rebels $144 million as fighting rages
Germany announced Sunday it has agreed to lend 100 million euros ($144 million) to the rebels in Libya for "civilian and humanitarian purposes" despite staying out of NATO's bombing campaign against Libyan government forces.
Rebel Chief: Gadhafi, Family Can Remain in Libya
In an interview earlier today, East Libyan rebel leader Mustafa Jalil confirmed that his faction's position is that Moammar Gadhafi and his family would be allowed to stay in Libya, provided they immediately surrender to the rebel faction.
Syria tightens screws on Homs, Assad sacks governor
The Syrian army consolidated its grip on the hotbed city of Homs on Sunday, activists said, as embattled President Bashar al-Assad sacked the governor of a flashpoint province 48 hours after massive anti-government protests.
July 23, 2011
Defiance on streets of Tripoli, Libya
After more than four months of Nato bombing raids in Libya there in no end in sight in the conflict between Col Gaddafi's forces and those opposed to his rule. The rebels may have a lot of support in towns such as Benghazi and Misrata, but in the capital Tripoli tens of thousands are willing to take to the streets to show that their loyalties lie with their leader.
Libya War Lies Worse Than Iraq
Asmara, Eritrea: The lies used to justify the NATO war against Libya have surpassed those created to justify the invasion of Iraq. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch both had honest observers on the ground for months following the rebellion in eastern Libya and both have repudiated every major charge used to justify the NATO war on Libya.
Libya rebels report loss of Qatrun
Libyan rebel fighters have lost control of the southwestern oasis town of Qatrun after an attack by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, a member of the local Toubou tribe told AFP on Saturday.
July 22, 2011
Libya says six killed in airstrike near Brega
A Libyan official said six guards were killed in an airstrike on Friday on a pipeline production plant just south of Brega in eastern Libya.
Qaddafi's forces push rebels back from Tripoli
Libyan rebels said a fierce counter-attack by forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Qaddafi had checked their gains on a front line east of Tripoli yesterday.
UN chief lashes out at Syria regime
UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon denounced on Wednesday the "escalating violence" in Syria, and called on authorities there to "immediately" stop the bloody repression.
Libya rebels: Brega oil installations boobytrapped by Gadhafi forces
Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi's troops have boobytrapped petroleum installations in the strategic oil port of Brega so they can be blown up if his regime loses the town, a top rebel official said Thursday.
Libyan rebels seek weaponry from allies
Libyan rebels have asked their international allies, including the U.S., for heavy weaponry to help them topple Col. Moammar Gadhafi's regime and capture the capital, Tripoli.
Libya rebels seek extra arms from France
Libya's rebels asked France for extra arms to help them overrun Tripoli within "days", as they ramped up a pre-Ramadan offensive that has Muammar Gaddafi's troops on the run in the east.
Gaddafi turns to tribes to retake rebel-held western mountains
Dozens of horsemen in flowing robes sat on their mounts cheering as men around them fired AK-47s in the air, proclaiming their allegiance to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and their readiness to march on the rebel-held western mountains.
Libya: Tension In Former Rebel Stronghold
As the Nato bombing campaign on Libya enters its fifth month, Colonel Gaddafi's government says a series of rallies in major western cities are proof his support base is, if anything, getting stronger.
Gunfire, explosions erupt as Syrian security forces sweep through city
Gunfire and explosions erupted Thursday in the city at the heart of Syria's anti-government uprising as soldiers launched a massive crackdown, witnesses said. Terrified residents cowered inside their homes and used mosque loudspeakers to call for blood donations to help the wounded.
Two killed in Homs as Syrian troops tighten screws
Syrian security forces shot dead two people on Thursday as they pressed their clampdown on dissidents in the central city of Homs, the capital and elsewhere, activists said, calling for mass protests.
For Libya's western rebels, high hopes but real struggles
In a house on the outskirts of this deserted village on Libya's western front line, about a dozen rebel fighters sheltered from the blistering sun, occasionally scanning the horizon with binoculars. Across the dusty mountain plain below them were Col. Moammar Gadhafi's forces, whom they'd forced from the village more than a month ago.
No Early End to Libya War Expected
Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadhafi, who has been personally rallying forces loyal to him in cities in and around Tripoli, appears well-entrenched in the capital, even as rebel forces in the east and west seem to be advancing for the moment.
Talks between Libya and US fail to secure Gaddafi's departure
Pressure on Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to quit is again mounting sharply, with American officials demanding his departure in direct talks with Libyan government representatives amid claims yesterday that rebels had taken the oil port of Brega in the east of the country.
We're in our home, Gaddafi says
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed on Tuesday to resist both rebels and Nato air strikes, as the insurgents sought to consolidate gains on one front and readied to push forward on another.
Why is Obama giving Libya to the Russians?—Bolton
With President Obama's Libya policy staggering from one embarrassment to another, last week he and Secretary of State Clinton outdid themselves. They publicly welcomed Russia's effort to insert itself as a mediator, an act of such strategic myopia that it must leave even Moscow's leadership speechless.
Libyan troops kill 8 rebels
Government forces in trucks disguised with rebel flags shelled opposition positions near the strategic eastern oil town of Brega, killing eight rebel fighters and wounding dozens more, officials said.
U.S. softens its criticism of Syria
Since Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's sharp words last week, the Obama administration has stopped short of calling for President Bashar Assad to resign and has toned down its rhetoric.
Assad to offer presidential election as Homs death toll rises
On Wednesday, reports in websites and newspapers said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is expected to deliver a new speech on the situation in the country. It will be his fourth public address since the protests against his regime started in mid-March. According to sources close to the embattled leader he is going to introduce several "surprises".
In Scarred Syria City, a Vision Of a Life Free From Dictators
In this city that bears the scars of one of the modern Middle East's bloodiest episodes, the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad has begun to help Syrians imagine life after dictatorship as it forges new leaders, organizes its own defense and reckons with a grim past in an uncertain experiment that showcases the forces that could end Mr. Assad's rule.
FBI interviews Syrian activists in Washington
The FBI has interviewed Syrian activists in Washington and expressed concerns about their safety, according to local opponents of the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian military assaults intensify on Homs, 16 killed
Syrian troops and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed 16 people in attacks in the city of Homs on Tuesday, residents said, an escalation of a crackdown against a focal point for pro-democracy protests.
Is NATO arming the Libyan "rebels"?
Reports are coming in of a vessel carrying weapons, some fabricated in the United States of America, together with 500 mercenaries, sailing through the Suez Canal towards Libya. Certainly, western mercenaries have been captured. After a number of western lies have been uncovered, we see the truth coming out of Libya as we expose NATO's lies.
U.S. recognition of new Libyan government raises tough legal questions
When the United States announced Friday that the Transitional National Council was the "legitimate" government in Libya, it wasn't just a matter of semantics. And it wasn't just a matter of ensuring that the group could get access to needed funds. The decision had far-reaching legal implications — and that has some international law scholars concerned.
The West's game of deception in Libya exposed
Several developments over the past few days have combined to further twist the Libyan conflict out of joint. Any hope that the conflict will be resolved soon through political and diplomatic means is fading fast.
Hidden Bombs Hit Libyans
The conflict in Libya between pro- and anti-Gadhafi forces will continue to take its toll on communities long after the war has ended as long as hidden bombs remain scattered across public areas.
Libyan troops kill 8 rebels near eastern oil town
Government forces in trucks disguised with rebel flags shelled opposition positions Tuesday near the strategic eastern oil town of Brega, killing eight rebel fighters and wounding dozens more, officials said.
Drone attacks are wrong and cowardly, regardless
Drone attacks are wrong. I'm sure to be called an appeaser of terrorists for saying that, particularly in light of the latest events in Mumbai. But I think it's important for Pakistanis, who are on the receiving end of the humiliation and much worse that drone attacks inflict, to hear an American say it.
July 18, 2011
Exiled Islamists Watch Rebellion Unfold at Home
Abu Sohaib spends most of his time online these days, following the news from his native Libya. He is in constant contact with friends on the ground there, helping them map out strategy to fight the rule of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi.
Yemen's Saleh to stay in Saudi Arabia for now: official
Yemen's wounded President Ali Abdullah Saleh will stay in Saudi Arabia until doctors declare him fit, a Yemeni official said on Friday, denying reports that Saleh could come back in time for this weekend's 33rd anniversary of his ascent to power.
Russia criticises West's backing of Libyan rebels
Russia criticised on Monday the United States and other countries that have recognised the rebel National Transitional Council as Libya's legitimate government, saying they were taking sides in the civil war.
Activists claim 30 killed in Syrian clashes
At least 30 people were killed in 24 hours in the central Syrian city of Homs in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, a human rights activist said on Sunday.
Syria forces besiege town after defections: residents
Syrian tanks surrounded a town near the border with Iraq's Sunni heartland on Sunday after thousands of people, emboldened by defections among security forces, took to the streets there denouncing President Bashar al-Assad, residents said.
Libya's "Freedom Fighters" Found to Engage in Pillage
According to a recent New York Times article, Human Rights Watch released materials citing cases of gross abuse by anti-Gadhafi rebels in a mountainous area located in the western part of Libya.
NATO airstrikes pound Tripoli, civilians hit
TRIPOLI: A series of NATO airstrikes rocked the Libyan capital before dawn today, sending up huge plumes of smoke over the city after hitting what Libyan state television said were civilian and military targets.
Among Libyan rebels, reluctant warriors
As armed rebellions go, the enthusiastic revolutionaries here in Libya's western mountains are amateurs, many schooled in battle from playing video games. They confess they sometimes fire their rifles over the heads of their enemies because they don't like the sight of blood.
Gadhafi Rules Out Leaving Libya as NATO Strikes Continue
NATO warplanes attacked and destroyed what is being called a "military depot" in eastern Tripoli today, the latest in what have been months of strikes by the alliance against targets across the western half of the nation.
Libya rebels report heavy street fighting in Brega
The battle for Brega switched from the desert to intense street fighting in the oil town's northeast on Sunday, as veteran Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi vowed never to quit and fresh blasts rocked Tripoli.
Niger fears takeover by militants in neighbor Libya
Niger fears that Islamic militants could seize power in Libya as a result of the civil war in its northern neighbor, President Mahamadou Issoufou said late on Saturday.
Heavy casualties reported in Libya fighting
Ten Libyan rebels were reported killed and 172 wounded in an attack on the eastern oil port of Brega on Saturday, while insurgents drove back forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in the west.
How the US controls "civil society" throughout Africa
Pan African thinkers may wish to ask themselves this question: "If South Africa were at war with Canada and in the process of bombing Canadian cities back to the Stone Age, would US President Barack Obama allow Mrs Zuma (the wife of the South African President) to come and have tea and talk charity with Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter (former US Presidents) in Washington DC?"
July 16, 2011
Gadhafi supporters rally for him in former rebel city
As fighting raged around the eastern Libyan oil town of Brega on Saturday, supporters of Moammar Gadhafi's internationally isolated government staged a rally hundreds of miles to the west.
Kadhafi defiant as rebels press offensive
Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said on Saturday he would never leave the land of his ancestors after fresh international calls for him to go and as rebels pressed their campaign to overthrow him.
Heavy casualties reported in Libya fighting
Ten Libyan rebels were reported killed and 172 wounded in an attack on the eastern oil port of Brega on Saturday, while insurgents drove back forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in the west.
Syria releases 28 anti-government intellectuals
The Syrian authorities released Saturday 28 intellectuals who were arrested for their participation in an anti-government protest that erupted late Wednesday in al-Midan neighborhood of the capital Damascus, a human rights activist told Xinhua.
Syrians mourn slain protesters, shout for freedom as opposition demands change
Tens of thousands of Syrians shouting "We want freedom!" carried slain protesters through the streets Saturday as opposition figures meeting in Turkey called for a united front to bring down the 40-year ruling dynasty of the Assad family.
Syrian dissidents plan strategy at Istanbul meeting
Hundreds of Syrian dissidents debated strategies to oust Bashar al-Assad's regime Saturday in Istanbul as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for a halt to the "brutal" repression of protests.
Syrian opposition forms council to counter Assad
Syrian opposition factions meeting in Istanbul on Saturday formed a broad-based council in the hope of creating a government-in-waiting to fill a void if street protests succeed in toppling President Bashar al-Assad.
July 15, 2011
Video: The Truth Behind the U.S./NATO War on Libya
The ANSWER Coalition has produced a brand new video with on-the-ground footage of the U.S./NATO atrocities against Libya that the corporate media won't show. The video features former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who recently returned from a fact-finding mission to Libya, as well as former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Nation of Islam leader Akbar Muhammad, and Brian Becker, the National Coordinator of the ANSWER Coalition.
NATO forces struggle to find an endgame in Libya
As rebel forces carried their wounded back from a failed assault on the oil town of Brega amid rocket explosions and NATO helicopter fire here in eastern Libya on Friday, a more quiet battle, one with potentially larger consequences, was taking place much farther down the Mediterranean coast in the closed meeting rooms of Istanbul.
Chavez Blasts European Powers, Urges NATO to Stop Air Raids
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday criticized European powers for their military intervention in Libya and urged NATO to stop air strikes against the North African country.
AU plans fresh attempt at unlocking Libyan crisis
The African Union is set to start fresh negotiations with the opposing sides in the Libyan conflict as it struggles to avoid being relegated to the sidelines over the stalemate.
Pressure on Gaddafi as West boosts Libya's 'leaders'
Western and regional powers on Friday boosted Libyan rebels battling Muammar Gaddafi by designating them as the country's legitimate rulers, a move that gives them access to vital funds.
Turkey Hopes to Help Bring Peaceful Future to Libya
Turkey hopes its role as the only predominately Muslim country in NATO, and its ties to African and Middle Eastern nations, will help it forge a peaceful future for Libya.
Libya: Ban Calls for Direct, UN-Mediated Talks to End War
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today appealed to the international community to support the efforts of his special envoy tasked with helping to resolve the crisis in Libya to have both parties engage in direct talks.
US Recognizes Al-Qaeda War Criminals As Libya's Official Government
In an act of utter desperation as the brutal, though entirely ineffective Libyan rebels flounder in their NATO-backed offensives against Libya's ruling government in Tripoli, the US has now recognized the Libyan rebels as the country's "legitimate government" allowing the US to directly fund, arm, and support with US troops, the Al-Qaeda tied war criminals operating out of Benghazi.
"Why Libya? Why Qaddafi?"
What are the reasons why the US government and its current President Barack Obama and his cabinet, are so vehement in their insistence that Libyan leaderMu'ammar el-Qaddafi "must go"?
Turkey pushes 'road map' to end Libyan crisis
Turkey will seek support for a "road map" to help end the Libyan crisis when countries backing NATO's military mission gather in Istanbul to increase the pressure on Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Libya says 1,100 dead in Nato 'war crimes'
LIBYA'S prosecutor general charged on Wednesday that Nato air strikes in support of rebel forces since the end of March have killed more than 1,100 civilians and wounded about 4,500 others.
China, Russia refuse to attend Libya Contact Group meeting
China and Russia announce that they will not be taking part in a Libya Contact Group meeting to be held in Istanbul, which is expected to discuss a Turkish proposed road-map for a political settlement.
NATO will be Defeated in Libya
The argument in Libya has been won by the Al Fateh revolution. There is now a glaring truth confronting the North Atlantic Terrorist Organization (NATO) — Muammar Qaddafi has handed out over one million kalashnikovs to the Libyan people. If he was the brutal dictator that NATO would have us believe him to be, then the armed population could have turned their guns on him and the revolutionary armed forces by now, especially as they would have NATO's full backing if they did so.
Libya rebels regroup but battle exposes weakness
Libyan rebel fighters prepared for a new offensive south of Tripoli on Thursday but tactical errors raised new questions about whether they will be able to march on the capital.
Libyan council establishes unified command
Libya's ragtag rebels said they had moved a step closer to becoming a coherent military force on Tuesday, as they announced a unified command structure for the first time.
Four killed in Syria as West pushes for UN action
Security forces killed four people in Syria on Thursday and used heavy machine-guns against protesters, rights groups said, as the West keeps pushing for UN action against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Damascus escalates its iron fist policy
Syrian forces killed four villagers Wednesday in an expansion of a military campaign to crush dissent, as the West continued to sharpen its rhetoric against President Bashar Assad.
Syrian protesters take aim at economy
Syrians held general strikes in cities and towns across the country Thursday, part of a strategy to squeeze the economy as President Bashar Assad tries to crush a four-month-old revolt against his autocratic rule.
Western govts up pressure for UN action on Syria
Western governments ratcheted up the pressure on UN Security Council action against Syria on Wednesday with France branding blocking moves by China and Russia as "indecent".
NATO Raid Kills Six Civilians in Afghanistan
The number of civilians NATO is killing in Afghanistan continues to soar this week, as protesters took to the streets of the Khost Province to condemn an overnight attack on a house which killed at least six civilians and wounded two others.
Rights group accuses Libyan rebels of abuse
Libyan rebel forces have been responsible for looting, arson and the abuse of civilians in their push toward Tripoli, Human Rights Watch alleged on Wednesday.
Libyan rebels deny committing recent abuses
A senior Libyan opposition leader rejected Wednesday accusations by Human Rights Watch that rebel forces committed abuses in recent weeks but he admitted some took place at the start of the revolution.
Offensive Stalls, Gadhafi Forces Reclaim Territory Near Tripoli
Launched last week, the Libyan rebel offensive against Tripoli was touted as a potentially decisive move from the south, bolstered by French weapons. As with every other offensive launched by either side, however, it has quickly ground to a halt.
In Libya's west, rebels rise amid rights concerns, growing pride
The increasingly assertive rebels in Libya's western Nafusah Mountains have committed abuses, Human Rights Watch says today. There's also growing pride, and confidence they're going to win their fight against Muammar Qaddafi.
Italy Says No Stalemate in Libya
Italy's foreign ministry spokesman, Maurizio Massari, insists the international community is on the right track in Libya and that the next step is for political negotiations to kick off to end the rule of long-time leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Libya and the War Powers Act: Obama's Lethal Transgression
As the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) war on Libya entered its 100th day, the United States legislature decided to assert itself. In 1973, Congress enacted the War Powers Act in response to the runaway war-making by the White House during the Johnson and Nixon years (the specific war was against Vietnam). If the President sends the military into operation without congressional authorisation or without a declaration of war, then the President must submit, within 48 hours, a report on why such action was necessary.
Activist: Bomb hits gas pipeline in eastern Syria
A human rights activist says a bomb has damaged a natural gas pipeline in eastern Syria. It's the first attack on the country's oil industry amid a monthslong uprising against the regime.
UN Security Council to discuss "secret" Syrian nuclear programme
The UN Security Council planned to discuss Syria's alleged secret nuclear programme with a senior International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspector who was traveling to New York to present the agency's findings, diplomats in Vienna said Wednesday.
US Hardens Tone Against Assad
Escalating its rhetoric against Bashar al-Assad, the White House declared Tuesday that the Syrian president had "lost his legitimacy" but declined to call explicitly for his resignation or removal.
Syria condemns Hillary Clinton's remarks about Assad
Escalating its rhetoric against Bashar al-Assad, the White House declared Tuesday that the Syrian president had "lost his legitimacy" but declined to call explicitly for his resignation or removal.
Syrian forces kill at least 27 protesters, activists say
At least 27 people were killed when Syrian security forces fired on anti-government protesters near the capital Damascus and other sites, Syrian activists said Wednesday.
Islamabad takes a shot at US drones
Pakistan-United States military ties have touched their lowest ebb since the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the US, mainly because of the endless American drone campaign in the tribal areas of Pakistan that has killed 2,587 people, including 58 high-value al-Qaeda and Taliban targets, in 256 strikes between June 2004 and June 2011.
Libya warns rebel-held east of water shortages
Adding muscle to their demands for a cease-fire, Libyan officials warned Tuesday that the rebel-controlled eastern half of the country could be cut off from water supplies without a truce to allow for maintenance work on a power plant pumping water up from the desert.
Syria says Clinton's remarks on Assad 'provocative'
BEIRUT: Syria denounced Tuesday a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which she said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had lost legitimacy and was "not indispensable."
The CIA's Secret Sites in Somalia
As part of its expanding counterterrorism program in Somalia, the CIA also uses a secret prison buried in the basement of Somalia's National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters, where prisoners suspected of being Shabab members or of having links to the group are held. Some of the prisoners have been snatched off the streets of Kenya and rendered by plane to Mogadishu. While the underground prison is officially run by the Somali NSA, US intelligence personnel pay the salaries of intelligence agents and also directly interrogate prisoners.
Syrian reform conference eclipsed by showdown with America
The gathering of establishment figures and some moderate opposition activists at a hotel in this hilly resort town west of Damascus was billed as a "national dialogue" that would debate issues unthinkable in repressive Syria as recently as a few months ago, such as press freedoms, a new election law and ways to end nearly half a century of Baath Party rule.
U.N. Official Says U.S. Is Breaking Rules In Torture Investigation
The United Nations chief torture investigator said the United States was violating U.N. rules, after the country denied him unmonitored access to Bradley Manning, the Army private charged with leaking among other things classified diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks.
Yemen security: 5 militants killed in airstrike
A government airstrike in a patch of southern Yemen overrun by radical Islamists killed five militants, as the country's security deteriorates amid a five-month uprising, a security official said Tuesday.
4 rebels killed, 22 wounded in clashes in Libyan town
Four rebels were killed and 22 wounded in overnight clashes against forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi in the western town of Zliten, rebels said on Monday.
Gaddafi forces are struggling, U.S. intelligence reports say
Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi is sending fresh signals through emissaries that he is ready to discuss stepping down, Western diplomats said Tuesday, as new intelligence assessments pointed to worsening conditions among his troops.
Some NATO allies in Libya exhausted in 90 days—US
New U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Monday that some NATO allies operating in Libya could see their forces "exhausted" within 90 days.
France Says NATO Bombing Has Failed
NATO, Diplomatic, and Congressional sources confirm that the Obama Administration erred badly in thinking that Libya's regime would collapse "in a few days, not weeks" as Obama assured the American public who has to pony up the estimated $5 billion thru July 31, 2011 costs. Obama's egregious miscalculation may cost him his presidency if the economy does not.
France Confirms 'Indirect' Talks With Libya Govt
Long the most outspoken advocates of the NATO bombing campaign, the French government has shown a shockingly rapid change of direction over the past two days on the war in Libya, with officials not only advocating a rebel agreement with the Gadhafi regime but even engaging in talks of their own to that end.
Libya: France risks Nato split over call for Gaddafi talks
France risked opening a significant split within Nato over the war in Libya yesterday by calling for negotiations with Colonel Gaddafi and confirming it was "passing messages" to his regime.
Celebrating peace! Libyans dancing in the streets
Pravda.Ru sources inside Libya have confirmed that the people of Tripoli are dancing in the streets in joy, celebrating a great victory, because NATO has ceased its bombing campaign. Sources in Libya state that negotiations are ongoing with France and meanwhile there has been a cessation of hostilities.
Libya's rebels fear a setback as Ramadan approaches
"I know that we need to get it flowing again in the next three weeks so that we can have petroleum sales by the end of July, God be willing," said Muhammad Al-Ubaydi, an engineer with the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. "We know that it will be a disaster if we cannot begin making sales before Ramadan begins."
Rebels face stiff resistance on road to Tripoli
Rebels fighting to encircle Moamer Kadhafi in Tripoli faced stiff resistance on Monday, coming under rocket attack south of the capital as France said it has made indirect contact with Libya's regime.
Libyan youths from Kadhafi towns join rebels
Scores of youths who fled towns and cities held by Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's forces have joined rebels on the front line in the Nafusa mountains, armed with local knowledge and enthusiasm.
Tunisia copes with Libyan refugees
The border post of Dehiba, in the south west of Tunisia, is one of the two main crossing points for people fleeing the conflict in Libya. Every day 800 Libyans use this border point to enter or leave the country.
Clashes in Libya's Zliten 'kill 4 and injure 22'
Four rebels were killed and 22 wounded in overnight clashes against forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi in the western town of Zliten, rebels said on Monday.
After Saleh Visit, Obama Aide Meets Yemeni General Over 'Power Transfer'
Yesterday, President Obama's top foreign policy aide John Brennan quietly moved into Saudi Arabia for secret talks with Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh at a Saudi military hospital, where Saleh is recovering from a near-successful assassination attempt.
30 dead in Yemen clashes
More than thirty people have been killed in four days of fighting between Al-Huthi rebels and opposition tribes in Al-Jawaf province, northern Yemen. The fighting has left hundreds injured and thousands of people displaced, a local tribal leader told Arab News on Monday.
Syrian protesters attack US embassy
Syrian government supporters smashed windows at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus on Monday, raised a Syrian flag and scrawled graffiti calling the American ambassador a "dog" in anger over the envoy's visit last week to an opposition stronghold, witnesses said.
Syria's al-Assad has "lost legitimacy," Clinton says
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that Syrian President Bashir al-Assad has 'lost legitimacy' for failing to live up to assurances he would introduce reforms.
US Warns Assad He Is 'Not Indispensable' After Embassy Attack
Speaking today in the wake of the embassy attacks in Damascus, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that he is "not indispensable" and that he must immediately 'compensate' the US for the attack.
Keep your money, Pakistan's military tells US
The Pakistan military declared it did not need US military aid after the White House confirmed that it would withhold $US800 million ($744 million) in assistance to the country's armed forces.
Next Up: Pakistan - Ominous signs of a major new war
I see someone besides myself has noticed all the "leaking" going on in the upper echelons of Washington over our rocky relationship with Pakistan. Suddenly Islamabad is on the verge of being classified as part of the Axis of Evil...
US drone strike kills 9 people in Pakistan
At least nine suspected militants were killed in a drone strike Monday evening in Pakistan's northwest tribal region, a media report said.
Reporter's Notebook: Reading the Rebels in Western Libya, Pt. I
The village of Qawalish sits on the rolling high ground of the mountains of western Libya, a small collection of houses, shops and a mosque astride a single two-lane asphalt road. By the time the fighters opposed to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi had chased away pro-Qaddafi forces last week, the battle for this tiny place, all but unknown by outsiders until that day, had provided several scenes that offered insights into how the rebel campaign is being conducted here.
July 09, 2011
U.S./NATO & Libyan puppets reject African plan for Libya cease-fire
This year's 17th African Union Summit attempted once again to broker a cease-fire in the nearly five-month-old imperialist war against Libya. The meeting of the 53-member organization was held in Malabo, capital of the former Spanish colony of Equatorial Guinea, from June 30 to July 2.
The game in Syria
A game is afoot in Syria, but it's one that is not as clear-cut as people might think.
